Countdown to shutdown: hit the ground running in the New Year

Not thinking about locking up when business is picking up? When it comes to the holiday season it pays to be prepared for the Christmas break. Here’s our top tips to get ready for the holiday shutdown.

Communicate clearly

Ensure that your staff and customers know about the shutdown period. The more notice the better. The most important things to cover are;

·       Business close/reopen dates

·       Outstanding invoice payments due

·       Deadlines for last orders, services or bookings

·       Roster on-call staff if you’re still open

It’s also now a good time to review holiday hours (if open) and confirm KPIs for the following year.

Review your finances

Tie up any loose ends on overdue invoices or accounts. Ensure that you have a clear picture of your finances going into the New Year. This can include;

·       Reviewing industry changes for super or wages

·       Confirming business goals for the next year

·       Checking annual leave balances

·       Scheduling payroll over the shutdown period

Check on tech

Before you hang up the ‘closed’ sign, ensure you’re tech-ready for the holidays. Some ways you can prepare are;

·       Backing up your data to the cloud to avoid any disruptions

·       Ensuring your IT provider (if you have one) is on standby

·       Turning off devices that consume energy – such as computers, microwaves, copiers or any other electronic devices

Bye-bye burnout

Running a small business in Australia is stressful — and 35% of owners report experiencing burnout*. If you don’t take time to reset, the pressure can snowball, leading to bigger problems and even more time off down the track. Use the break to rest and focus on yourself and your family, so you’re ready to hit the ground running in the New Year.

*Source: 2025 Beyond Blue, Australia

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