How to Prepare to Take Extended Time Off as a Small Business Owner
As we approach the end of the school year, I think a lot of us Mompreneurs are in the same boat: we have a business to run and now we’ll have kids underfoot again too, which we all know can be a tricky, if not impossible situation to get anything done in...And then there’s the knowledge of the few summers we have left to enjoy with them before we send them off into the world on their own, and maybe the motivation to work over the summer just isn’t there. If this sounds like you, then know that you are not alone! I am right there with you and that’s why I’ve committed to taking some extra time off with my kids during the peak summer months.
This is only my second year doing this and I know I have a lot to learn still, but I also did learned a few things last year that I am putting into practice this time around and I’d love to share them with you to hopefully help you prepare to do the same.
To be honest, I think it was the best thing I ever did last year, but also at the same time, it really did slow a lot of things down and so my goal this year is to have the same level of presence with the kids, while also preparing my business to pick back up where we left off when school starts again.
So here are the steps I am taking to prepare my small business to run on autopilot while I take the summer *mostly* off with my kids:
Put systems into place -
Earlier this year I set up my Dubsado workflows. You can read more about my experience here, but setting up my workflows required me to get super clear on my systems and writing a lot of canned emails. Having these systems in place helps me to stay consistent with my client experience while also cutting down on the office work that it takes to coordinate photoshoots. It will also enable me to spend less time communicating with any new inquiries I receive while I am mostly out of the office over the summer.
2. Prepare my regular clients -
A few months before I planned to take time off, I emailed my regular clients that would be due for new brand imagery over the summer months to let them know and see if they wanted to get on my schedule before then. Some of them made sure to get on my schedule before then and a few of them made plans with me for September when I will return to my full schedule. Communication is key to setting up expectations for extended time off.
3. Batch content creation -
I am currently still working on batch-creating and scheduling content for my blog and social media that will go live over the months I am out. Continuing to post regularly in these spaces will hopefully keep me top of mind for my regular clients and get me in front of new clients so that when I come back I’ve set myself up for a successful Fall season. I didn’t do this step last year when I was out and I regretted it.
4. Open up my Fall schedule for clients who are willing to wait -
I am so lucky to have clients who are willing to schedule out with me! But I will say that trusting that my schedule will fill up and that I am not losing clients in the meantime is the hardest part of taking time off for me.
These are the 4 things I am doing to help my time off and the transition back into work go smoothly for me. Are you taking time off this summer? How are you preparing for it?