Do you take a summer vacation? If so, how long do you step away from your business to take a vacation? Do you put someone else in charge or simply take down your “open” sign and replace with “Gone Fishing”?
Small business owners know more than anyone that time is money. Whenever you are not working you are losing money. Whenever you are working you oddly only have the potential to make money. Nonetheless, time really is money and taking too much time off can harm a small business. Not only could you lose money you could use clients and momentum. The hours put in by a small business owner are great and all nighters are not a foreign concept. It takes hard work and commitment to see your business operate and turn a profit. So how do you just leave it and risk time off?
Easily. You simply leave it. Small business owners are always at risk for burn out. Most of the time your business falls squarely on your shoulders if you are a sole proprietor. If you have a business partner you may be able to work out a vacation schedule so both you have time off the business. However, if you do not have a partner taking time off can be tricky. On one hand, you do not need to work things out with a partner. On the other hand you have no one to pick up the slack if you go on vacation. However, given all that you must take time to soak in the sun.
How to take time off this summer and still have a business:
Contact your clients in advance and let them know you will be on vacation. Most will understand and frankly expect you will take time off. Be sure to tie up loose ends before you leave and no not start anything new until you get back.
If you must to maintain your business take an hour a day to look through emails. Have your spouse or child keep you accountable to only one hour.
Ask someone who knows your business or you trust to handle incoming calls and emails while you are gone.