How to Earn or Save Money While Traveling on Business

1. Use a cash back or rewards credit card

Make all of your reservations with a rewards credit card–for air travel, hotels, and rental cars, as well as gasoline and meals while traveling. You can earn cash back, mileage, or other rewards while still be reimbursed by your employer. Even if you are self-employed, you can still adopt these strategies to put something back in your pocket.

2. Sign up for travel-related Rewards Programs

Most airlines, hotels, rental car companies have rewards programs for frequent customers. Whenever possible use the same airline, hotel, or car rental agency to maximize your rewards.

Examples: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hilton Family of hotels, Holiday Inn hotels, Hertz

3. Bring snacks and something to read in your carry-on if you’re flying.

Don’t get sucked in to buying a magazine, or worse yet an overpriced book or airport food while you are waiting in the airport. Bring something from home to read (even if you bring a laptop) and snacks to hold you over until you reach your destination.

4. If you’re on per diem, eat lightly and make money.

Occasionally, I travel on per diem (a daily fixed rate for meals). When this happens, I usually try to eat light, and put a little extra money in my pocket by the end of the day.

5. Combine Business with Pleasure–plan a vacation or weekend getaway

If you are traveling somewhere remotely interesting on your company’s nickel, have your spouse or family join you near the end of the trip. In most cases, your hotel room has plenty of room for an extra person or even people. They can sightsee for the last day or so while you’re tending to business, and then you can extend your stay a few days and take advantage of the free travel for you to reach the destination, and only have to pay for whomever is joining you.