Travel is one of the most commonly under-charged costs for suppliers starting out - it is easy to absorb a 40-mile round trip "just this once" until it's happened ten times. Getting it right also widens how far you can say yes - see how to get more wedding enquiries without paying for leads for where a clear service area fits into that.
Two ways to charge for it
- A flat, no-charge core area, with a per-mile rate beyond it - simple to state on your profile, and most hosts never see a travel line at all.
- A per-mile rate from your base for every job - fairer if your core area genuinely varies a lot, but adds a calculation to every quote.
A simple rate to start from
There is no legal requirement for what you charge, but the UK's HMRC mileage rate - 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles a year, 25p after - is a well-known benchmark that covers fuel and wear, not just fuel, and is easy for hosts to look up if they ask how you arrived at it.
| Distance from your base (one way) | Return miles | Indicative travel charge |
|---|---|---|
| 10 miles | 20 miles | £9.00 |
| 25 miles | 50 miles | £22.50 |
| 50 miles | 100 miles | £45.00 |
Beyond the mileage number
- Factor in extra setup and breakdown time for far-away jobs, not just the drive.
- Decide a cut-off distance beyond which you simply do not travel - it is fine to have one.
- Round to a clean number rather than an oddly specific figure like £22.50 - hosts read round numbers as more confident quoting.
Be upfront about it
State your travel policy in your service area, so it is not a surprise after a host has already got excited about booking you - see what to put on your profile for where it fits.
Build it into your published range
If your price range already includes typical travel for your core area, say so - it saves a host asking "is that plus travel?" on every enquiry.
Set your service area and pricing
A clear service area and price range on your Plan My Do profile heads off travel questions before they are asked.
Update your profile