When you run your own business it often means being pulled from one place to another constantly. You wish you could split yourself in half and be the ultimate multitasker, but miracles aren’t always possible unfortunately. Although you feel overworked, there are many advantages of being your own boss, which include having the freedom to do whatever you want to do and go wherever you want to go for your job. Travelling is one of the huge bonuses of working in certain industries, such as IT support or recruitment. You can head off to new places and explore different destinations, whilst carrying out your business duties. When you have to travel a lot for business it is important to make the most of your trip and be prepared for your time away. Many entrepreneurs fail to see the benefits of travelling so often, but it really can give you the gift of time and experience. Instead of huffing and puffing about hopping on another flight or sitting on another train, just stop and think about the hundreds of tasks you could get done within that time. Always be prepared from every angle and your business trips will always be productive, proactive and prepared.
- Cash and Credit Cards
When you travel a lot for your business it is very easy to overspend, ignore surcharges and lose track of your expenses. Instead of losing out on money every time you leave the country you might want to look into business credit cards for regular travelers. If your business requires your employees to travel as well, it would be useful to have credit cards linked to the company account so that you can keep track of their spending whilst they are away too. This type of preparation is going to help your finances in the long run, so look into credit cards that are going to benefit you.
- Save and Book in Advance
Undoubtedly, there are going to be times when you need to jet off to a meeting last minute, but whenever possible you should try and book your travel in advance. Last minute bookings can be almost ten times the price, depending on the length of the journey. On the contrary, there are certain websites that offer excellent last minute deals especially on hotels. In general, it is always best to book trains and flights up to twelve weeks in advance. Hotels can be booked last minute and won’t be quite as expensive as you think. Try travelling with the same company and teaming up together; you might just get some really good deals out of it.
- Be Sure to Confirm With the Other Party
It would be a complete shame to head out on a business trip only to be disappointed with the other party. Make sure you confirm your meeting twenty four hours before you depart; the other company or client might have to cancel last minute. In this case you might be able to get a partial or full refund on your transport or hotel. If you head to the destination unnecessarily you will never be able to claim any of the money back. Obviously, last minute changes happen so always be prepared to change your plans at short notice and don’t be disappointed when a meeting doesn’t quite go to plan.
- Time Management is Important
When you need to travel for business you are given the gift of time during your journey. Depending on how far you are going, you could have anything from an hour to eight hours to complete a whole tonne of work. Plan your time out carefully for your journey and enquire about onboard WiFi before you set off. Long journeys are the perfect time to catch up on your emails, plan ahead for the next couple of weeks and brainstorm new ideas. If you manage your time well, your business trip will be way more productive.
- Have Your Contacts Close to Hand
When you are travelling for business on your own it can be pretty daunting if things go wrong. Keep your tech team and IT experts close to hand for emergencies. Let’s say your computer crashes and you are unable to access vital information for your support consultation with a client. If your team back at home can access your software remotely your problem will be solved quickly and efficiently, causing less stress to you whilst you’re away.
- Make the Most of Your Trips
Travelling to new places is an amazing opportunity for you to meet new people, network and gain new clients. Make sure you are making the most of your business trips by talking to as many industry people as you can. You could come home with a whole new client base which will make the trip totally worthwhile.
- Don’t Forget to Enjoy Your Downtime
When you are on a business trip it is absolutely fine to take time out to yourself. If you don’t rest your brain you will soon go into overload and you will become less productive. Enjoy your surroundings, take in the new cultures and explore local landmarks. Make the business trip a relaxing time as well; you will start to enjoy them much more if you can schedule in some down time. Why not take your other half or friend along with you? This will ensure you don’t overwork yourself and you manage to have some sort of leisure time.
So when you are heading off on your next business trip, make sure you take the following ideas into account. Instead of travelling in a stressed and unprepared state you can truly make the most of a long haul flight or a lengthy journey by being super productive. Don’t forget to take approved credit cards with you, so you aren’t faced with hefty and expensive bills for using your regular cards abroad. Use your time wisely and enjoy exploring new destinations and meeting new people in the business world. You will never go on a wasted trip again as long as you take the time to prepare.