It’s no secret that running a small business comes with necessary expenses. But when you’re traveling for business, it’s important to keep your expenses under control to prevent them from negatively impacting your company.
Here are a few tips you can use to travel for business without breaking your budget.
Be smart when booking flights
Whether you’re traveling to the third-largest island in Hawaii (Oahu) or the largest city in Ireland (Dublin), airfare is going to be a major expense. The good news is that you can manage to book a cheaper flight if you’re willing to be travel-savvy.
While you’re researching airlines and booking flights, consider the following general tips:
- It’s recommended to book your flights 50 days in advance, or approximately seven weeks.
- The cheapest days to fly domestic are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
- The cheapest flights are often early morning flights.
- The best time to buy airline tickets for domestic flights is typically at 3 PM EST on Tuesdays.
Save on travel by staying in a central location
Every year, Americans waste an estimated 42 hours and $1,400 in fuel in traffic alone. When your business is on your dime these costs can really stack up. When you book a hotel for your business trip, consider staying in a central location. Transportation costs can add up quickly whether you’re renting a vehicle or using a ride-sharing service.
Ideally, you want to stay in a location where you can walk where you need to go or where you can access a bus stop or subway. Using public transportation also reduces the risk of being in an accident while you’re traveling.
There are approximately 6 million car accidents on U.S. roads every year and the most popular states for motorcyclists are Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. The last thing you need to worry about when on a business trip is getting hurt because of another driver’s negligence. So stay safe and travel cheap.
Do your research on where you book
According to a survey by HR.com, over 96% of employers report that their companies conduct at least one type of employment background screening. If you screen the background of your potential employees, why wouldn’t you do research on the hotels and airlines you’re booking?
Sometimes a hotel or airline is more expensive, but they offer more features that could save you money in the long run. Be sure you’re not just looking at customer reviews and prices but also what each hotel and flight has to offer.
For instance, if you’re not booked in a central location, it may save money to book in a hotel that has many in-house restaurants and bars so you don’t need to travel a long distance outside the hotel to find something to eat.
It can feel like a challenge to save money when you’re on a business trip. But by being travel-savvy, doing your research, and booking your stay in the right location, you can save money on travel, transportation, and hotel amenities so you can stay under budget on your business trip wherever you travel.
