Posted on Monday, 24 April 2017

As summer approaches, demand is once again set to push up the cost of travel. For small businesses, these outgoings can be significant, so it's worth taking steps to control them. Here we offer 10 useful ways to minimise your small business travel costs.

Book in advance and require approval for last-minute trips

Many business meetings are planned weeks or months in advance. Associated transport and hotel bookings should be made as soon as possible to take advantage of cheaper advance fares. If a last-minute trip is necessary, consider requiring management approval. This should encourage more long-view planning.

Track unused tickets

Cancellations are common in the realm of business travel. Take steps to track all ticket purchases, so they might be refunded or exchanged if necessary. Permitting employees to use multiple travel websites makes tracking more difficult.

Is upgrading from business to first class necessary?

Most airlines board these two classes at the same time, so there is rarely a time benefit to opting for first. Consider permitting a higher class of travel only for long-haul trips. Of course, economy class offers the biggest savings – and is usually fine for short-haul trips.

Upgrades: do you need them?

Airlines offer a host of upgrades, cross sells and up sells. Do you really need them? Over the course of a year, cutting out these luxuries can mean big savings.

Reduce fraud risk with a virtual credit card

Business travellers occasionally fall victim to credit card fraud. A virtual credit card – created for a particular trip and then cancelled afterwards – means the user does not carry around a physical card and so cannot be defrauded.

Stay away from low-fares that prohibit making changes

Avoid the relatively new class of ticket that offers low fares but zero ability to make alterations. Once again, business users often need to alter their flights, so make sure your ticket allows it.

Choose a comprehensive yet affordable travel insurer

Business travel cover is an essential component of any commercial trip. Take a look at starttravel.co.uk's popular business travel insurance.

Take advantage of company loyalty programs

Rather than just gimmicks, company loyalty programs offer a range of tangible benefits, with savings to be had on everything from hotels rooms to flights to car rentals.

Switch to Uber

For business travellers who need to use taxis regularly, encourage the use of Uber cabs or other alternatives instead. Even in the short term they could deliver large savings. Although not always appropriate, consider UberPOOL for extra savings.

Don't forget hotel comparison sites

Sites like Travel Supermarket and Trivago allow you to compare accommodation costs with ease. If you don't have a huge kitty for hotels, these sites are worth their weight in gold.

Get a Quote