Online Business Primer

As a business owner, you are looking for ways to save your business money, always, and you may be using fleet fuel cards to do it. One of the best ways to plan for your business expenses is to gauge price points for fuel usage. You may spend hours working on formulas trying to get the right budget in place for the next season but it is rarely easy to do. And, in a world where the economy and every small detail affects the price of oil so much so, it can be very limiting to find a way to cut down on costs.

Where do you expect fuel prices to be in the 2011 summer season? Various details show these costs could be high or could come down. The winter and spring months have brought an increase in fuel costs, especially in the area of gasoline. Even in diesel, though, prices are all over the place. The slow ramp up of pricing is common in the summer months, as more people take to the road, thus pushing down the amount of supply available and increasing demand. However, this does not mean that all hope is lost for an affordable fuel season. Many experts say that prices are coming down.

In recent weeks, the price of oil has spiked to the highest levels it has ever been. Most of this price spike has been brought on specifically by speculation, though, rather than any drop in the availability of oil, or the willingness of countries to mine for it. In other words, the product is there and the only factors affecting its price increases are coming from pressures put on by the markets, not by real supply and demand factors. But, what does this mean for those businesses that rely on affordable pricing for gas? Fleet fuel cards are a good way to monitor your expenses, but what should you plan for?

While the price of gas has risen significantly over the last few weeks, most experts believe that the summer 2011 season will have lower pricing than the spring start. However, the decrease in gas prices is very hard to predict. The factors are not related, in fact, to the trucking industry or the demand consumers put on fuel. Rather, it all goes back to factors such as the economy, the foreign concerns in the European zone and the threat of war in the Middle East. All of these factors have traders on edge, wondering what is going to happen next. As traders worry, they try to hedge their risks and inevitably push the value of oil up, which is directly influencing the costs that businesses and consumers are paying for gas and oil related products.

With this in mind, consider the options available to you. It is likely that gas prices will remain around the $4 mark for most consumer and gasoline price points, with diesel trending around the current location. However, you can cut your costs, improve your efficiency and see marked improvement in your budget by using fleet fuel cards. These cards allow you to track usage and to get the best price possible for your investment. Your business will be able to keep costs down even if the price of fuel continues to rise in the coming months. There is no doubt that price for fuel remains a big limitation for many business owners, especially those with a fleet, but with the right cards in hand, you can reduce those costs and see marked improvements in your business’ bottom line.

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Gas credit cards are a better option to manage your fleet’s needs than any other type of product available. Specially designed accounts provide outstanding resources for users, to ensure that the user has access to the type of service necessary to keep the fleet running at its best. It takes time and hard work to build a successful business but without a functioning, beneficial method for payment of services such as gas and maintenance, your business could be struggling to keep its doors open. Today’s business owner is focusing more on options in fleet cards than ever.

These cards are not like your traditional type of credit card. They work to provide a higher quality of service to the user because they are designed specifically for fleet managers and teams to use. Unlike other types of gas cards, these cards work universally, meaning that you do not have to go to just one fuel provider to use the credit line. Take into consideration the wide range of options available to you as a business owner. Is there any benefit to choosing a card that limits your ability to buy from the trusted providers and the suppliers that you want to? Get more flexibility in where you buy and what you use your card from instead.

There are more benefits to this type of card than just that, though. In fact, these gas credit cards are designed to meet the growing need of the business owner. Today’s fleet manager and business owner is focused on making sure the company’s bottom line is growing and not falling into the red. With the increased costs of fuel and the intense pressure from the government to tighten up emissions standards, it has been rough on many businesses to say the least. But, these cards can help.

One of the ways they help is providing access to a network of providers. That network of providers offers the lowest prices available to members for fuel as well as for the necessary maintenance that your business needs. This is one of the best perks these cards can offer. Not only do you have a means to pay using your card, but you also get to choose which provider to buy from and get the lowest prices available. Non-members often pay far more than this for their fuel and service needs and yet, they could be benefiting from this product instead.

As you take into consideration the wide range of options available to you as a business manager of a fleet of vehicles, realize that these tools can provide even more to you. They can help you to track the fuel usage of any particular vehicle. They can also help you to track maintenance on vehicles, which will greatly improve the bottom line of any business. When you can track these features, you can see what is needed, what is not and what can improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Taking these things into consideration, realize that there is really no reason not to invest.

As you look at the options available to you in today’s credit cards and bank cards, realize that you do not have to settle for a card that limits you. Instead, choose a universally accepted card that gives you the freedom to buy as you would like them. Gas credit cards for your fleet can help you to meet the gaps you face otherwise within your business or help you to manage your fleet more successfully. It really can be an outstanding opportunity for most business owners.

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There are many different options that companies have to help to cut the cost of doing business. As the price of vehicles, vehicle repairs and fuel continues to increase, saving even small sums of money on each fill up and repair can add up to huge reductions in your fleet budget. One such very simple option is to manage your fleet fuel costs through the use of fleet gas cards. These cards allow you to view reports, keep track of expenses and even track mileage between fill ups and service repairs.

Knowing how often your drivers are filling up their vehicles is an important step in cutting overall fuel use. Through fleet gas cards each individual driver can be tracked. This will allow you to monitor which drivers get the best fuel mileage and which ones seem to constantly fill up more than others. This can lead to a more comprehensive driving policy that is geared towards fuel saving and being economical. Often company fleet managers find out that some drivers leave vehicles idling for long periods of time or they fail to maintain the vehicle properly, resulting in lower than expected fuel mileage.

Fleet gas cards also ensure that the cards are only being used for what they are intended for. Using bank or merchant credit cards, cash reimbursement or fuel allowance methods of payment does leave a lot of grey areas on how the cards can be used. Some employees may be stealing from you by filling up their own vehicles or even completing personal vehicle repairs on the company credit card. By using a fleet card that monitors, in real time, the information on the vehicle with regards to the charge you can virtually eliminate this very common type of theft. Even one or two fill ups per year on a personal vehicle with the company card can add up to thousands of dollars if you have a substantial fleet and number of drivers.

Fleet gas cards have different types of settings that allow for greater protection for both the company and the drivers. Having cards that are branded and can only be used as specific filling and repair stations is a great option. This allows the company fleet manager to work with stations and repair services that offer the best value for their money and even provide reduced fees for vehicles repaired on the fleet cards. By having the same service provider for all vehicles in the fleet you will soon find that a great working relationship develops that allows you to discuss options for greater savings with increased loyalty and use of the cards. Cards can also be limited as to the total value that can be placed on any one purchase, which is a great security feature in the event of the loss or theft of a fleet card.

Last but not least, most fleet gas cards offer rebates back on the amount of fuel purchased per month or year. For most oil and gas companies the total amount of gallons of both diesel and gasoline are used to calculate the monthly rebate, which can be substantial. There is also the option to limit the cards to just diesel or just gasoline purchases to match with your fuel requirements for your fleet. With these substantial rebates on fuel you need to purchase anyway, you will see a definite savings over cash reimbursement or credit card use for company fuel.

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If you have ever tried to find the perfect office space in New York City, you’ve certainly seen some truly spectacular spaces and some that leave a lot to be desired. Having a good idea of what you are looking for can help weed out the unsuitable spaces to focus on the ones that are perfect for your needs. This simple process of identifying and clarifying what you want will save you time, lots of stress and travel.

First, planning where you want your office is a major consideration. There are a lot of perks to being located in a central location close to major public transportation hubs and centers. This is a much more practical option for those businesses that will see customers and clients on site. Consider locations that are near Penn Station, the major Subway lines, Grand central and the Port Authority Bus Terminals. Of course you don’t want to forget those customers and clients that drive, so parking space close to your office will be a major consideration. Combining all these transportation factors isn’t as tough as you may think, if you just focus on areas that are within a few blocks of the transportation hubs.

Once you have narrowed down “the where”, it’s time to think about the physical attributes of your office space in New York City. You may want something that is completely modern in design with clean lines and open spaces or perhaps very cozy and traditional in décor and design. The color scheme in the office also is important as you want the office to really reflect you. Open windows, great lighting and that special, welcoming feeling is really what most people that are renting are really looking for.

The size of the office or office suite will also be a major consideration. After all, no matter how perfectly it is decorated and designed, if you don’t have enough space it will not work. Keep in mind, not only the number of workspaces or offices you need in the suite, but also storage, seating and space to feel at home in your work area. Some offices may offer the option of a large enough space for more than one desk or workstation combined with central tables, great for collaborative work or meeting with clients and customers.

Furnished office space in any city or location is a cost saving option for a small, medium or large sized business. You don’t have to buy the furnishings and you also don’t have to pay movers to bring it in or to take it out. If you are considering furnished space it is essential to look at the quality and style of the furnishings and if it gives the message you are hoping to send to your clients and customers. Quality furniture that is stylish yet functional is a true find in any type of office space.

Finally, having access to meeting rooms and lobby areas is an important consideration for most small to large businesses. Understanding how to reserve meeting space and if use is included in your rental agreement, is an important key factor in the overall cost if you plan to use these spaces on a regular basis. So, with all things considered, what do you consider to be the features you want in an office space in the Big Apple?

Vera Mosley is a blogger, tweeter, and writer for a New York Office Space company. In her spare time, Vera is an avid decorator and design expert. Vera can be reached on Twitter @Vmosley.

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As a fleet manager, you must always keep one eye on fuel consumption. It is important to budget for the fuel you will need, and not to exceed that budget, or you may end up cutting into your company’s profits.

In order to keep fuel expenses down, you will need to use every tool at your disposal to monitor your vehicles’ fuel economy and to train drivers on the best practices to follow on the road. Here are a few tips to help keep your fuel costs down.

• Limit idling: Idling is one of the ways that drivers waste fuel. According to United States law, over-the-road truckers are prohibited from idling for more than five minutes. You might want to establish a similar policy, or perhaps even set stricter limits for your drivers. Also be sure to offer driver training that addresses why idling is a concern, and when they should turn off the truck instead of letting it run.
• Drive the speed limit: There are many good reasons for sticking to the speed limit, and few of them actually have to do with fuel economy. For one thing, lights on in-town roads are often timed for folks who are traveling at the speed limit, allowing them to pass without getting stopped by as many lights. Your drivers who speed will get caught at more lights, and it takes more gas to accelerate over and over again. Additionally, vehicles are typically the most fuel efficient at around 50 or 60 miles an hour, so drivers who speed on the highway will actually be costing you money.
• Accelerate conservatively: Fast takeoffs, known as jackrabbit starts, are one of the biggest causes of poor fuel economy. Drivers who speed get caught at more lights, and then accelerate quickly when they take off, creating fuel waste on two fronts. In addition to mandating that your drivers go the speed limit, be sure to train them to accelerate conservatively when they do get caught at lights.
• Do all scheduled maintenance on time: Part of minimizing your fuel costs is making sure to keep your vehicles in tiptop shape. Well maintained vehicles will use fuel more efficiently, not to mention they will continue to run for longer than if they were poorly cared for. Be sure to change the oil, transmission fluid or oil, and air filters regularly, and do all other preventative maintenance such as tune-ups when they are scheduled. Keeping good records, or using a tool such as the reporting feature of fleet cards, is imperative.
• Monitor fuel economy: Another part of ensuring your vehicles run as efficiently as possible is to keep a close eye on the vehicle’s performance. Tools such as a Fleet Mastercard are useful because the detailed reporting enables you to keep an eye on how much fuel each vehicle consumes on a regular basis, and watch for increases that might mean a drop in fuel efficiency.

Maintaining an efficient fleet is one of the best ways to minimize your expenses and maximize your company’s profits. Although it requires a combination of good driver training and thorough record keeping, the amount of money you can save on fuel can be well worth the added effort and training.

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