When you take that first step and launch your start up, you will no doubt want to keep costs as low as possible. Most start-ups struggle in the first few years, and there are always unexpected costs that seem to come out of nowhere. One thing that you might be surprised by is the cost of running company vehicles, whether they’re used by employees to visit clients or to deliver your products.
Gas costs can be a large percentage of this. Here are some tips for minimizing your company fuel costs to help balance your budget.
1. Go remote when possible
If employees are using a lot of fuel on their commute or you’re doing long journeys to visit clients for short meetings, think about whether these are necessary. The number of Americans who work from home is steadily on the rise, and while you may not want your workforce to do remote work all the time, letting them do one or two days at home each week would cut fuel costs.
It’s also worth considering whether you really need to do that long drive for a meeting. Face to face meetings are nice, but some clients are happy to just do a video conferencing call, as it takes up less time.
2. Get regular tune-ups for company vehicles
Vehicles that are poorly serviced will often waste fuel, as they don’t achieve their best possible performance. Make sure that your company’s vehicles get a regular tune-up to keep them running well. Air conditioning can also waste fuel if it’s not properly looked after, so look for garages that offer an AC service in Winter Park to keep these systems working efficiently.
3. Keep vehicles light
Excess weight can soon turn your vehicle into a gas guzzler, so make sure vehicles aren’t overloaded with heavy items in the trunk. Loading up roof racks can also make cars less fuel efficient.
If you’re delivering your company’s products and struggling to use your own cars or trucks, consider getting some quotes for courier services instead. While you may be trying to save money by doing your own deliveries, it’s sometimes cheaper to use a courier, even if the item is heavy or bulky.
4. Make the most of tax deductions
Knowing which tax deductions you can claim can save your company thousands of dollars each year. There are many automobile expenses that you can claim for, including gasoline, maintenance and depreciation, so it’s important to keep accurate records of everything you spend on your company vehicles and get the figures to your accountant in plenty of time before the tax deadline.
5. Switch to electric or hybrid vehicles
Around 34% of Americans expect to buy an electric car in the next 10 years, so why not invest in electric vehicles for your business? Switching to electric or hybrid vehicles can cut your transport costs, and it’s not just cars that are available nowadays. There are also larger trucks and full-size vans that can be great for business use.
Focusing on ways to cut your fuel costs is an easy way to save your start-up money, and it often takes just a few small changes to see positive results.