How to prepare your business for a holiday
The school holidays are nearly here — six whole weeks of summer fun (and chaos!). With a bit of pre-planning, flexible working hours, and perhaps a few well-timed holiday clubs, most business owners can keep things running smoothly.
But what about those times when you really want to switch off — the beach days, the road trips, the family adventures? Taking time off as a business owner can feel tricky, but here’s the truth: you are allowed to take a holiday. You’ve worked hard to build your business, and you deserve to rest and recharge. In fact, your clients will respect you more for prioritising your wellbeing and setting healthy boundaries.
So, how do you prepare your business for your holiday without coming back to chaos? Here’s exactly how I do it.
☀️ Communicate clearly (and early)
Let your clients know your holiday dates well in advance — and pop them in any shared calendars or project timelines. There’s no need to hide the fact that you’re taking time off.
In the early days of running a business, it’s tempting to appear “always available”, but that’s neither realistic nor sustainable. Communicating your plans shows professionalism and helps set expectations.
Tell clients how their work will be covered:
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Will you front-load before you go?
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Will you catch up afterwards?
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Or do you have team members or associates covering for you?
Be realistic about your capacity and timeframes. This honesty builds trust — and means you can truly relax.
📧 Set a fun (but clear) out-of-office message
Your out-of-office email doesn’t need to be dull! Try something friendly and on-brand:
“Thanks for your message! I’m currently away recharging my batteries and soaking up some sunshine. I’ll reply to your email on [date]. Thanks for your patience — I’ll get back to you soon, refreshed and full of ideas!”
It’s professional, polite, and human.
➡️ Nominate a second-in-command
People like to know there’s someone they can contact if something urgent crops up.
If you have a VA or team member who knows your business inside-out, ask them to act as your point of contact while you’re away. I’ve done this many times for clients — even when I couldn’t fix the issue directly, I could reassure the client that everything was under control until the right person returned.
That peace of mind is worth gold.
🤖 Automate and schedule everything you can
Automation is your best friend when preparing for time off. Use tools like:
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Meta Business Suite for scheduling social media posts
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Later, Planoly, or Canva for batching content
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Email marketing platforms (like Flodesk or Mailchimp) to schedule newsletters
Test your scheduling tools a few weeks before your break so you can trust that everything will go live seamlessly.
👉 Keep your info accurate and updated
If your business sells products, update your shipping times and availability across all platforms. For example:
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Etsy offers a vacation mode to pause orders.
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Service-based businesses can update their Google Business Profile and Facebook opening hours.
You can also pin a friendly “We’re away until [date]” post on your social media — so clients and customers know what to expect.
🧁 Prepare your team
Emergencies happen — it’s just life (and business!). Reduce potential stress by ensuring your team knows what to do and who to contact if something unexpected occurs.
Give them a short list of essential contacts: IT support, maintenance, suppliers, etc. Make sure everyone’s connected and feels confident to make decisions while you’re away.
🔒 Stay secure online
If you plan to check in occasionally, invest in a VPN (Virtual Private Network). It’s a small cost for a big boost in online security — especially if you’re logging in from hotel Wi-Fi or public connections.
🌴 Finally… Enjoy your break!
You’ve earned it.
The run-up to a holiday can feel hectic — sports days, client deadlines, and endless to-do lists. But the whole point of all this prep is so that you can actually switch off. Whether you’re off for some beachside relaxation or an adventure with the family, take time to truly unwind.
When you come back refreshed, your creativity, focus, and motivation will skyrocket — and your business will thank you for it.
So go ahead — turn on that out-of-office, grab your sunhat, and enjoy every moment. 🌴
