Soaring oil prices are squeezing small businesses and franchisors so hard that some are looking at cheaper alternative sources of fuel for their vehicles - including running vans on fat from the chip pan.
At the beginning of the month Brent crude oil hit a record high of $146 a barrel, though the price has since fallen slightly. According to a poll by financial services firm Bibby, four out of five small businesses are feeling the pinch with many forced to cut back on journeys.
Furniture repairer Richard Audsley has seen his annual fuel bill increase by about £700. ‘You just watch it escalating and there is little that can be done,’ says Richard, 63, who runs the East Berkshire franchise of Furniture Medic.
Though the Government has hinted that it might freeze this autumn’s planned 2p rise in fuel duty, smaller firms are having to find new ways to manage the rising cost of fuel.
Richard’s overall franchisor, ServiceMaster, has agreed a cheaper, cross-network price for fuel, paid for through a company fuel card, as well as advice on reducing the number of trips through better scheduling.
Run Your Van On Fat From The Pan
July 16, 2008 by Mark | 1 Comment
In Franchisors, Franchises, Franchising in UK / Ireland /
danakeith on July 16th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
fuels faces unstoppable rising cost these days, better to schedule appointments the same day if you can in order to minimize budget.