The Fuelcard Company is advising small business owners to look to contract hire as a way to finance vehicle fleets during tough economic times.

“It is vital for small businesses to not over commit funds,” explained Jakes de Kock, marketing director at The Fuelcard Company. “Through the management of a contract fleet, the majority of costs are pre-calculated on a fixed monthly basis eliminating nasty surprises.

“Managers of fleets will also be able to benefit from contract hire as they can obtain better deals on higher priced cars than if they were buying the car outright - more expensive cars often have lower rental charges than cheaper ones as the hire firms anticipate a higher future resale value.”