02/ 04/ 2007
Don't let gas prices blow up your budget
High energy prices continue to squeeze small businesses that rely on transportation to conduct business, and they may climb even higher this year. Though 84 percent of small-business owners use vehicles in their operations, according to an NFIB study, nearly half of those surveyed made no changes last year to counteract high gas prices.
Maybe you can't afford to reduce your fleet or invest in energy-efficient vehicles just yet, but these simple steps will help ease your pressure at the pump this year:
- Monitor consumption
- Adjust routes Help employees find faster or more energy-efficient ways to reach their destinations.
- Go off-road
Instead of driving to meetings, ask clients if you can meet online or via teleconference. If your employees have laptops with wireless access, allow them to work from home one day a week.
Keep up with how much gasoline you use on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Know which employees get reimbursed for mileage, the average number of miles they travel and the make and model of their vehicles to budget appropriately.
