5 Tips to Reduce Travel Expense in Small Business

Travel is one of the highest discretionary spend for many small business owners. It is also one of the spend items that you cannot skimp on either. You have to let employees travel to meet with customers, attend conferences and find prospects. There is only so much you can accomplish via phone or video conference. While there is no way to avoid travel there are ways in which you can reduce the travel expense without sacrificing your business. Below we share 5 tips to help you achieve that goal.

1. Book in Advance

Whether employees do their own booking or you plan trips for them as a business, booking in advance reduces hotel and flight costs. The closer you get to any trip, the higher the prices tend to get. Plus, when you book in advance, you have time to wait for the best days of the week to book your travel plans. You’ll also have more flight and hotel options to consider. If sending employees on the red-eye is the cheapest option, you’ll be able to book that flight before it fills up.

4 Reasons Why Small Business Owners Must Monitor Online Reviews

“Writers … fall into two groups: those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.” Isaac Asimov specified writers in this famous quote, but his words could apply to business owners as well. You might be too emotionally attached to read what Yelpers are saying about your brainchild, but someone in your business needs to keep an eye on review sites. Explore four reasons why you shouldn’t ignore those online reviewers.

1. You Get a Second Chance

Of course, you wish your customers would talk to you directly when they have an issue and spread the word to others when they’re happy. Customers don’t always follow that model. Instead, they often choose to leave your business by fuming and venting on a review site.

All is not lost, however. Occasionally, you can reach out to that reviewer, briefly explain why the experience isn’t typical of your business, and entice the person to give you a second chance by offering a free product or service.