Travel costly but worth it for small businesses | TribLIVE

By Rhonda Abrams

Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 12:01?a.m.
Updated 14 hours ago

Business travel is an often-neglected aspect of small-business life, and most entrepreneurs don?t travel enough.

Nothing beats the power of a face-to-face meeting for closing a deal or maintaining an ongoing client relationship. Business travel can be expensive, especially on a small-business budget, but I?ve got tips to save you money.

1. Travel early in the year. January and February are often a less expensive time to travel with a couple of exceptions.

2. Use alternate airports. Going to Miami, Washington or San Francisco? Check prices to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Baltimore; or San Jose and Oakland, Calif., instead. Lower-cost airlines often run flights from secondary airports, driving prices down on all airlines.

3. Shop prices on the Internet,but also call hotels directly. Often, the lowest rate ? especially at the last minute ? can be obtained by checking with the hotel.

4. Get a credit card that gives you miles, and pay business expenses with that card.

5. Try moderately priced, business-oriented motels. Many hotel chains are specifically aimed at road warriors ? entrepreneurs, salespeople, consultants. These hotels provide a lot of stuff free: Wi-Fi, breakfast, parking, sometimes even free appetizers and drinks in the early evening.

6. Use your own cellphone in the United States. Hotel phones can be costly, even for local calls.

7. Use smartphone apps to connect when you?re outside the United States. You can call or text back home free.

It?s tough to build, maintain and deepen professional relationships from a distance. Travel is the way to build those bridges.

Rhonda Abrams is president of The Planning Shop and publisher of books for entrepreneurs.

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Source: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3131943-74/travel-business-entrepreneurs

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