Christmas lists aren’t just for kids and Santa Claus. Before the summer holidays arrive, tick off our small business Christmas checklist to ensure you’re in the best possible shape for the new year ahead.
7 things you may or may not have thought about
We've put together a list of things you should consider, if you haven't already before you 'go offline' for the holiday period.
Plan cashflow
Make sure your business has funds on hand to pay suppliers over Christmas and January, remembering your tax obligations in the first month of the year. Prepare cashflow forecasts in advance. If things are tight, consider holding off on big investments, renovations, and upgrades until well into 2025.
Try Christmas marketing
People love to spend money at Christmas. Why not take advantage of the mood with a personalised Christmas promotional campaign? It’s not too late to send a marketing email to your customers thanking them for their business — and it can help build brand loyalty.
Review your website
Web traffic tends to spike over Christmas. Make sure your website is working without any glitches before you clock off. Problems can be hard to fix while everyone is away, so ensure web and mobile sites are up to speed.
Check your inventory
Don’t guesstimate your inventory or leave things to chance over the summer; make sure you have enough stock to meet demand. Check what you used last Christmas for a guideline.
Sort out staffing schedules
Getting to Christmas and discovering no one is rostered to cover late December and early January is a nightmare. Avoid worst-case outcomes. Plan ahead with staff. Keep things fair. Ensure employees take turns to cover the most inconvenient times.
Chase up invoices
Chasing late payments is a pet hate for business owners. If you have overdue payments in the run-up to Christmas, chances are it will get worse in the New Year. Make sure you are paid in full before the break. For some tips, check out one of our recent blog articles.
Get some rest
Christmas is an important time to get some well-earned rest. Schedule time to relax! Take time to reset so you can walk into 2025 with the right mindset. For some ideas, download our Christmas eBook.
If any of these points raise questions, talk to us. And whatever you are doing this holiday season, we wish you a safe and happy break and look forward to continuing to work alongside you in 2025.
