Christmas Office closure checklist
Christmas time in Australia means warmer weather, backyard BBQs, Christmas shopping and summer holidays. If you are running a business, you are probably gearing up to close the office for at least two weeks of much-needed R&R.
It is a notoriously busy time, and in a service-based business, the push to get through everything by Christmas eve means the office can get a little hectic. So, to help ease the stress of the Christmas rush, we have put together a checklist for the Christmas closure period. Leaving you to focus your energy on ensuring your business, team, and clients have a rested festive period and come back refreshed for the new year.
YOUR STAFF
- Turn on email Out of Office messages (don’t forget shared inboxes)
- Update voicemails to include closure dates (landlines and mobiles)
- Turn off unessential electrical devices
- Empty the fridge & bins of perishables
- Include emergency contact details
- Water any plants
- Enjoy a well-deserved Christmas party with the team
- Ensure payroll is managed over the break
YOUR CLIENTS
- Send client Christmas cards and gifts by the start of December
- Advertise the closure dates (website, email banners)
YOUR BUSINESS
- Update Christmas trading hours on your website, social media and your Google My Business profile
- Send out an e-Newsletter to your clients and prospects wishing them a safe holiday – advise them of the closure dates and alternative contact details
- Schedule social media posts for the holiday period
- Chase up any unpaid invoices
Broadcast your closure dates
Notifying your clients of office closures is essential to maintaining your service levels. Be sure to advertise your closure dates at every point your customers might contact you and be sure to add a banner to the bottom of your emails. It’s best to start doing this in late November so the message gets out whenever you contact someone. So as not to be a nuisance over the break, don’t schedule any marketing emails during this time – if your clients aren’t working, they won’t be reading your marketing emails!
Be prepared
The lead-up to Christmas is the perfect opportunity to thank your valued customers for their business over the past year and to wish them well for the next twelve months. So, get any Christmas cards or gifts sent out early, so they reach your customers by mid-December. Those small gestures can go a long way and, at the very least, inspire some Christmas cheer.
Remember to factor in time for some self-care too. It can be easy to overlook this when you’re busy ensuring your business is ready for the break and getting your own Christmas shopping done. Book any appointments you need early to make sure you can get in. Self-care is just as important as everything else. In fact, without a healthy, happy business owner – how can you expect your business to flourish?
Getting your outstanding invoices paid
While the silly season can get hectic with so many loose ends to tie up in the office and parties to attend – keeping on top of your cash flow over the Christmas period is imperative. There is no hiding from the ever-increasing interest rates – which means your cost of capital to fund any work in progress and receivables presumably keeps rising too. When interest rates were low, this cost may not be as burdensome, but that is not the case now. Moreover, funding increases to salaries and overheads are coming at an increased cost.
With this in mind, providing fee funding arrangements to clients that allow them time to pay whilst putting much-needed money in the bank would be beneficial. Having healthy cash flow at any time of the year is essential for a well-run business, and when the cost of doing business continues to rise, it’s more important, now than ever, to ensure you get your outstanding invoices paid.
Things are getting real for the finances of many, and in the coming months, businesses and households will feel the flow-on effects. Contact QuickFee today to discuss how our Fee Financing facility can give your clients the flexibility they need without compromising your own firm’s position.
