As a small business owner there’s always too much to do and not enough time or money. How can you keep up with your market, network with your peers, and market your business at conferences on a low budget?
Let me tell you a way to save a huge portion off your conference costs. I saved $500 at my last conference.
As a new business owner of Kay9 Environmental, I really wanted to attend the recent BlogPaws conference in Myrtle Beach, SC—a mere 998 miles from my home an hour north of Chicago.
Since many people at BlogPaws bring their pets, and it’s an easy attention grabber, I wanted to bring my cocker spaniel, Buffy. Buffy’s too big to fit under an airline seat, so I knew I’d have to drive, which would add more time and motel costs.
The conference hotel had a “discounted” price of $140/night. I debated about finding a roommate to share the cost, but it’s always a bit uncomfortable sharing a room with someone you don’t know. Plus I didn’t know how Buffy would react with another pet in the room. Other nearby hotels weren’t much cheaper.
But there was a state park nearby with camping, although their camping wasn’t cheap at $36/night for the tent only sites, they were right on the beach—and had showers—a must for attending a conference.
I debated over this challenge. The hotel with a roommate may provide benefits if we got along well, such as discussing sessions we attended or issues with our websites. But it could also go poorly if either our pets or we didn’t get along.
I chose camping and I’m glad I did.
After full days in a hotel and meetings, it felt good to drive ten minutes to Myrtle Beach State Park and walk Buffy on the beach. My tent was only a half a block from the ocean, a nice easy walk. Plus the wind at the beach kept the mosquitos away. The park also had a boardwalk near the beach with signs discussing interesting plants and animals and erosion at the beach, which I found quite interesting.
Points to consider when on a low budget
- Can you drive and is your car in good condition?
- It could cost you a lot more in time and money if you have a breakdown on the road.
- Can you handle the long drive?
- A back support pillow has helped me tolerate long drives.
- Plan your overnight stops ahead of time and make reservations. I camped to minimize my costs ($5 at a National Forest campground).
- Make sure the campground is open if you are arriving late. Some close their gates at 10 pm (make sure you are on the right time zone!)
- Bring a bottle of water and snacks. You could save even more if you prepared a few sandwiches for the road instead of eating fast food (and it’s healthier too).
- If you decide to fly watch for sales. Prices change often so if you find a good price, grab it.
- Watch for hidden costs for carry-on luggage.
- Are nearby hotels less pricey?
- Check their cancelation policy in case your plans change.
- Consider camping if the weather is nice AND you are an experienced camper. Don’t camp if you don’t have the equipment.
- Some people ask me if it is safe to camp. People are generally friendly. I’ve NEVER had a problem with anyone harassing me or stealing my stuff. Noise and bugs can sometimes be a problem, but usually the quiet hours are enforced. I also feel a lot better if I have my dog with me.
- Use a garment bag to pack your conference clothes to reduce wrinkling.
- Make sure the campground has showers.
- Reserve your site ahead of time.
I’ve camped at several conferences and it has saved me a lot and is more relaxing. My final cost for the conference was less than $300, which included registration for the conference (early bird registration), camping, gas and food. If I had flown and used the hotel, my cost would have been around $800—a savings of $500!
Will you consider camping for your next conference? It sure made the difference for me!
Please leave a comment and let me know if you have any other cost savings tips for small businesses. Could you use help with writing content for your website or mailings? Check out my samples page and contact me for a quote.
Also, check out my author blog at sandykubillus.com for pets and their environment, or if you have had a dog with cancer, share your experiences at www.caninecancerconcerns.com.
