Multiple small businesses in Chicago and the suburbs are trying to find ways to offset the costs of high gas prices.
Some family-owned businesses are absorbing the costs while others are passing them on to consumers.
Britt Driver, the owner of Lucille’s Cleaning and Organization, started her business in 2020, making several trips across the Chicago area every week.
“I typically will spend a little less than 40 dollars to fill up my tank, now it’s 70 dollars, that’s a huge difference,” she said.
To offset the cost of higher gas prices, she’s considering adding a travel fee, but fears she could possibly lose clients.
“A satisfied customer they give out referrals, they give out reviews, if they’re paying an arm and a leg even if I do a great service, it’s still probably not going to be worth it to them,” she said.
Other small businesses said they tried to absorb the cost for as long as they could.
The owner of Carlson Limousine in Huntley told NBC 5 on the phone they added a fuel surcharge of $10 to help offset the costs for their drivers.
The owner of a landscaping business in Chicago said fuel costs have more than double, on top of the cost of supplies. He said the cost of operation has risen more than 65% from several years ago.
“It makes me feel angry with these prices because I’m getting hit everyday and there’s nothing I could do,” said Brian Torres, owner of Torres Landscaping and Paving.
Torres and his crew fill up trucks and equipment at multiple sites every day of the week. He’s added extra fees sporadically but is hesitant on a full roll out.
“I’ve been trying to add a little more to the bill, but some clients don’t understand the prices have gone up in gas,” he said. “I mean I try to do my best to work with them, but I need some help too.”
Torres told NBC Chicago he’s not sure how much more he can take before changing prices.
“I mean I’m just trying to hold a couple of months because if we keep staying with the same prices, I’m the one that’s going to be in bad shape at the end of the year,” he said. “I hope our clients understand that it’s nothing from our hand.”
