Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
If you are a mum with a side business, there is a good chance it is a mobile one. Across the UK, there are thousands of mumpreneurs running around in cars and vans working to grow their business empires. They are hairdressers, dog groomers, beauticians, cleaners, independent carers and women who sell a long list of other products or services.
Regardless of which of these you are the trick to competing successfully and making a good profit is keeping your business expenses under control. For a mobile business that means minimising how much their van, car or other vehicle costs to run. Here are a few ways to do just that.
Use a fuel card
Getting a business fuel card from emo.ieor somewhere similar is a good place to start. Using one has several advantages. Firstly, it is really convenient.
Easily keep track of your fuel costs
All of your fuel bills are together on one invoice. So there is no more messing around with a pile of receipts at the end of the month to fill out your accounts spreadsheet.
Save money on fuel
Potentially it can save you money too. Some fuel card providers negotiate special rates for their cardholders. If you do a lot of miles, that can represent a big saving for your business. Most providers automatically send you fuel price updates. This is useful because when you see the price drop you can go and top up your tank before the cost goes back up again.
Improve your cash flow
Provided your credit rating is good and the option to settle your bill at the end of the month is available, having a fuel card can greatly improve your cash flow. This is especially the case if there is some delay between when you do the work and when you get paid. For example, if you are a decorator or builder.
OK, as you can see there are quite a few benefits to having a fuel card. But, that is not the only way to keep the cost of running your business vehicle(s) down.
Drive carefully
This is an obvious one, but something very few of us do. We all have a tendency to rush from place to place. As a result, we end up changing gear, accelerating and braking far more than we actually need to do. This is all wear and tear, so you end up having to pay quite a lot of repair bills.
Black box vehicle insurance
Provided you are prepared to drive carefully having a black box fitted to your business vehicle can be a really good idea. It will keep your premiums down. But, the moment you start rushing around there is a real danger that the opposite could happen. If your insurance firm sees that you speed, brake heavily a lot they can decide to charge you more instead of less. So, you really do need to think carefully before having one fitted. This articlewill help you to decide whether it is right for you.
Disclosure – this a collaborative post.
