Doron F. Eghbali Closely Held Business Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Balance Business and Life: Take a Vacation with Prudence

Monday, December 14, 2009 by Doron F. Eghbali

One of the perks of owning a business is the owner could take a
vacation without worrying about losing a job when the vacation is over.
Yet, a prudent business owner follows some guidelines to retain the
trust and confidence of existing owners and contribute to the long-term
health of business, while taking a vacation.

NOTIFY CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS BEFORE HAND

Some business owners are wary of letting their customers and clients know
they are taking a vacation because they are afraid their customers will
find out they are a small business. However, many people appreciate the
fact a business owner wants to take a vacation. Indeed, clients and
customers could put a human face to the business endeavor,they feel
more comfortable connecting with it.

By notifying customers and clients in advance, you give them a chance to:

Ask you questions;
Get updates;
Buy products and services;
Make an appointment;
Plan in advance.

In fact, provide your customers with contact information where you or a trusted and competent professional can be reached.

DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES TO COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS

Train employees to operate independently in your absence.
Let your employees know how to manage customers, vendors, and suppliers.
Have an operations manual in place.
If you do not have employees, consider an independent contractor who works from home.

MAKE VACATION BUSINESS RELATED

Your vacatin could be when you are on a business-related trip.

Add an extra day or two to your business trip;
Think about any tax-related benefits;
Make your vacation less expensive; and
Feel happy you are making money while being on some kind of vacation.

TAKE A VACATION DURING SLOW PERIODS

Taking your vacation when business is slow or a lot of people are on vacation, could be an optimal time to relax. In fact, retail shops and seasonal enterprises may want to take a vacation during January or summer months.

Posted at 09:58 AM

Topic: Closely Held Business Law