Published on 27/11/2019 by Any Business.Com.Au

Holiday Proof Your Business: Then Go and Enjoy Yourself

More than a third of Australian business owners work through the summer holidays without taking time off.

According to research, while the rest of Australia takes a break, small business owners are clocking up more hours per week than the average doctor.

As a small-business owner, it's hard to take a step back – especially if you've built your business from the ground up.

But foregoing holidays can do both you and the business more harm than good. There are some easy steps that you can take to holiday-proof your business and minimise distractions during that much-needed respite.

Inform all stakeholders...and then inform them again

Communication is key, even if this means over-communicating. Tell people that you're going away in advance instead of abruptly disappearing. Put an out-of-office responder on and forward your office number to a member of your team or voicemail if you're a sole trader.

There's a lot of unexpected "life admin" that comes with holidays, so ensure you have enough time to get your business in order and prevent last-minute stress from angry customers.

Manage customer expectations

If taking a few weeks off means that you won't be able to speak with customers for a period of time, be sure to manage their expectations.

This could be the difference between losing or retaining a customer.

If you have regular orders that are due while you're away, talk to your customers to see if they're happy to receive delivery outside of their usual dates. If you can automate delivery for the usual date, that's even better.

Galvanise your team

Generally, it's good practice to be able to step back and let other members of the team take the reigns.

A comprehensive staff meeting outlining staff expectations and roles before you head off on holiday should negate any unexpected issues and get everyone on the same page.

Planning for the 'Uh Oh' moment

Don't be afraid to put together an action plan should the worst case scenario occur while you're away.

For example, if you know that cash flow could potentially cause an issue, cover yourself with a business loan from a short-term lender.

Even if nothing happens, you'll be able to fully enjoy your holiday knowing you've got all your bases covered.

Switch off

Most importantly, switch off once you're on holiday. With the right tools and preparation, you can create a self-sufficient business that not only survives but thrives when you're not there.

AnyBusiness.com.au

Curtis is a leading expert in the business-for-sale industry, serving as a senior content creator at anybusiness.com.au.

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Curtis has accumulated extensive knowledge in the domain of business sales, acquisitions, and valuations. His deep understanding of market dynamics and his ability to translate complex industry jargon into accessible insights make him a trusted resource for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to buy or sell businesses.

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