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Ah, the summertime. A welcome change after the long, cold winter we had across the US. (Yes! Even here in Florida where I live.) A vacation from your business is really important. It gives you the ability to kick back and refresh your focus. But the last thing you want to do on vacation is deal with an undone issue.
So I was thrilled when Intuit shared these tips to help you take your vacation without skipping a beat.
>>> Have your business a click away: Although you will be on vacation and your books will be in order before you go, you may still want access to critical business info from the road. Try an online offering such as QuickBooks Online. If you want to fully escape, consider giving your login information to a family member or friend to monitor for you.
>>> Check in before checking out: Make sure you tell the necessary folks you will be away. Update your email and voicemail to note you’re out of office and be sure to provide a contact person so customers and vendors don’t feel stranded. Also, consider partnering with another trusted small business owner with a complementary business who can watch your business while you’re out and you can return the favor when you return.
>>> Keep your employees happy: Your employees depend on you and depend on getting a regular paycheck, so if payroll is scheduled to take place while you are away, make sure it’s automated or someone can run it for you. Consider something like Intuit Online Payroll– schedule payments online and don’t look back.
>>> Plan payments before packing: Before packing your bags, make sure you’ve scheduled all payments and invoices in advance. One missed payment to a vendor or bank could set you back and hurt your credit, and delayed invoicing disrupts cash flow. Try auto-bill pay with Wells Fargo and scheduled invoicing with services like Intuit Billing Manager.
>>> Make it count: Make sure you enjoy yourself on your vacation and do your best not to mix business with pleasure. Coming back refreshed and energized will only help you run your business better!
What other tips would you add?
About Denise O'Berry
Denise: First time visitor to your site. Your bits of wisdom are right down my alley. I found the post about preparing your employees for your vacation interesting. I am advancing the theory that a business in which it does not matter if the owner is EVER there is far more valuable that when the owner is “critical to the operation”.
I have just completed a book in which you might find some interest, “Entrepreneurial Insanity: When Doing the Same Things Do Not Produce Different Results — It’s Time to Do Different Things”. (Soon at https://www.createspace.com/3439545) The thesis is that the more system that replace the owner, the stronger the business — and the more likely it can be sold.
Whether the owner wants to sell or not is beside the point. A business only has value when it CAN be sold. The owner cannot sell him or herself in the deal.
I will watch your blog with interest and link out to it.
Roger