When employees like Jim go on business trips, there are many costs involved that the company covers. To determine Jim’s total trip costs, you need to consider factors like transportation, lodging, meals, incidentals, and any miscellaneous expenses. By following some key steps, you can calculate an accurate estimate of what Jim’s upcoming business trip will cost the company.
Gather Information on the Trip Details
The first thing you need is specifics on the business trip. Where is Jim traveling to and for how long? Some key details to obtain:
– Destination city and dates of travel
– Mode of transportation (flight, driving, etc)
– Hotel and room type Jim will use
– Meals that will be covered – breakfast, lunch, dinner
– Any conferences, training events, or other activities Jim will attend
Research Per Diem Rates
Per diem rates help establish daily limits for meal and incidental expenses on business trips. Government per diem rates are available online from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). However, your company may set its own per diem rates. Check your company policy to identify the applicable meal and incidental per diem rates for Jim’s destination city.
Estimate Airfare or Mileage Costs
For flight travel, look up airfares for Jim’s dates and destination. Estimating the typical rate range for economy seats will provide an accurate approximation of his airfare costs. If Jim is driving, use the standard federal mileage rate or your company’s rate to calculate an estimated mileage reimbursement amount based on the trip’s total miles.
Research Lodging Costs
Contact the hotel or look on travel booking sites to determine the average nightly rate for the type of room Jim will use. Multiply this rate by the number of nights Jim will stay to estimate the lodging costs. Add in daily taxes and fees as well.
Factor in Other Expenses
Jim may incur other trip-related costs apart from meals, flights, and hotels. Lookup typical expenses for things like:
– Airport parking
– Train/bus tickets to events
– Conference registration fees
– Airport transfers like taxis or shuttles
– Checked baggage fees
Build Out a Trip Cost Estimate
With all the key data gathered, you can now prepare a trip cost estimate for Jim. Some steps:
– List all transportation expenses like airfare and mileage.
– Calculate meal per diem amounts for each travel day.
– Add up lodging costs for each night.
– Identify any additional expenses like fees or local transportation.
– Sum all expenses to determine the total estimated trip cost.
By following this process, you can develop an accurate cost estimate for Jim’s business trip. Just be sure to communicate the estimate to Jim so he knows how much the company will reimburse. Provide guidance on keeping receipts and submitting an expense report when he returns to streamline processing his trip reimbursement.
What if certain costs are unknown when estimating the trip expenses?
Use an average or estimated amount based on research when exact figures are unavailable.
Should incidental expenses be included in the cost estimate?
Yes, daily incidental allowances up to the per diem rate can be incorporated in the estimate.
What if the hotel provides a lower rate than what is researched?
Use the actual lower rate in the final cost estimate when it is available. Initial research just provides an approximation.
Can costs be estimated using an online travel calculator?
Yes, many sites like Travely and TripIt offer handy calculators to estimate business trip costs.
What if meal expenses exceed the daily per diem?
The cost estimate should only include meals up to the per diem rate. Any amounts above come out of the employee’s pocket.
By researching key details like transportation mode, lodging rates, and per diem allowances, you can estimate total business trip costs for employees like Jim. Build out the numbers in an itemized spreadsheet to communicate the estimate and set expectations on reimbursable amounts. With some diligence, you can determine an accurate projection of expenses.
Conclusion
Estimating an employee’s costs for an upcoming business trip involves collecting details on travel dates, transport, lodging, and per diem rates. By researching airfare, mileage, hotel rates, and incidental expenses, you can provide an accurate estimate of the company’s reimbursable costs for the trip. This helps the employee understand the budgets while also allowing the company to plan the reimbursement. With some dedicated information gathering and number crunching, determining trip cost estimates is quite feasible.
