Closing Your Business Over Christmas? How to Get It Right and Avoid Unnecessary Headaches

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!Today we’re talking about a time of year we all look forward to, but can often come with unnecessary headaches – Christmas close downs. Here’s what we cover:Communicating the Closure Early:Start telling people now, if you haven’t already. Use every channel: website banner, Google Business Profile, email list, socials, invoice footer, and phone voicemail. Be explicit about things like final working day, re-opening day, response times during shutdown and your emergency contact process (if you offer it). Preparing Your Team: With your staff, ensure you are following the correct process according to the relevant Modern Awards. Lock in leave dates early so there are no surprises and people have time to prepare. Make clear who’s “on call”, if anyone. Double-check payroll runs, public holidays, award requirements, leave loading, contractor cut-off dates.Client Expectations & Boundary Setting: Set boundaries like you mean them: “We are closed — emails will not be answered until X date.” “Urgent work must be booked before X.”Operational Wrap-Up Before Shut Down Checklist to run through:Final billings & invoices outChase debtors before Christmas (January money is imaginary money)Stocktake and re-ordering set for JanuaryAuto-responses set upBackups doneClient files and jobs moved to “ready to resume” status Update your phone voicemail (rookie mistake if you forget)Security & Risk Management:Be sure things are secure. Turn off what should be off. Lock what should be locked. If you’re a physical premises: alarms, cameras, shutters, utilities. If you’re digital: revoke any temp access, update passwords, check MFA settings.Cashflow Strategy for December/January:December can be a cash-in month, use it. If January is quiet considering things like bringing forward billings, pre-sell work for mid-January, offer early-bird discounts for Feb start dates and set aside a “silly-season float” to cover BAS, wages, and GST surprises.Use the Break Properly: This may be the only time that you genuinely get to rest – use it!Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshowOr follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/ * Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.Mentioned in this episode:Invitation to Join Kristy-Lee for this Free Webinar?Are you across the Fair Work changes that take effect on 1 July? Join Kristy-Lee for this free webinar to discover exactly what's changing and what you need to do about it, so you don't end up in hot water with Fair Work (even if you only have 5 staff and one of them is your sister-in-law). Free live webinar for Australian small business owners Tuesday 23rd June | 12pm AEST | Online via Zoom https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/webinar