High gas prices hurt small businesses of all kinds, nationwide. Hardest hit are operations that require a great deal of driving – for deliveries or to visit clients, for example – or that rely heavily on gas guzzling trucks. More and more small businesses are adding special "fuel recovery" fees or delivery surcharges to help compensate, leaving cost-weary customers unhappy. Some businesses are restricting the areas they serve, or charging more to go out of area. Others are raising minimum charges or putting tiered pricing in place to compensate for having to travel greater distances.
Employees are also feeling the pinch, and small employers are trying to help on that front as well. Some are boosting payments for employee-incurred mileage, while others are permitting workers to telecommute more often. Helping ease the burden of high gas prices on employees has become a new way for small businesses to maintain morale and reduce turnover. Your top concerns are:
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Sign up for rebates
Popularity of gas rebate credit cards among small business has skyrocketed. These cards offer rebates ranging from 2 to 6 percent at the gas pump, so the higher gas prices go, the more you get back. There are many types to choose from, including cards that give rebates at any gas station.
I recommend: Visit the Gas Rebate Card section at
CreditCardGuide.com. The site lists details of many different gas rebate card offers from major banks, oil companies and service station chains.
PumpAndSave.com offers similar comparisons and helpful money saving tips.
Buy the cheapest gas available
How do you know where that is? Easy. Just check one of the online gas price comparison sites.
I recommend: GasBuddy.com and
GasPriceWatch.com can tell you what stations are selling gas the cheapest in your Zip Code.
Ship more efficiently
High fuel costs are forcing major shipping and delivery companies to raise prices and fuel add-on fees. Comparing shipping costs among different carries is now more important than ever. And by consolidating shipments, switching to smaller and lighter packaging materials and perhaps drop shipping from different locations, you can save money.
I recommend: Compare shipping costs at
FreightQuote.com and
RedRoller.com.
Hop into hybrids
When it's time to buy new vehicles for your biz, take fuel efficiency into account. Lighter weight vehicles, smaller engines and wider-than-ever selection of hybrids can save your business money.
I recommend: A great place to find and compare side-by-side vehicle information for gas mileage (as well as safety and other features) is
FuelEconomy.gov, a site created by the U.S. Department of Energy. This Web site offers a wide range of helpful information, on gas mileage, gas prices, alternative fuel vehicles and more.
Follow fuel efficient driving tips
You've heard them before -- avoid jackrabbit starts; keep tires properlly inflated; run air conditioners less.
I recommend: WikiHow.com has the best (and longest) list of
gas-saving ideas anywhere.
Leverage the web
Show customers how buying online and by mail order can save them money by not having to visit your location.
I recommend: Use web-based collaboration sites to "meet" with clients, freelancers, partners and others rather than hooking up in person. Two top choices include
Zoho.com and
Webex.com.
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