10 Things To Do When Business Slows Down Over The Holidays

I'm sure you've seen it happen every year: your business slows down during predictable times, like the summer vacation months or year-end holidays. For the self-employed who rely upon steady cash flow, this can be a disconcerting time. Should you just take a vacation until things naturally pick up again? Or should you try to find the needle-in-the-haystack business that might be out there during slow times?

This year, vow to be different! Instead of languishing in no-business-never-land, get off your butt and do something to build the foundation of your business so that natural business cycles don't affect you too deeply:

  • Clean your office. Go through all the piles of papers and magazines that have been sitting around and get rid of them once and for all. Remember the office organizing mantra: do it, ditch it or delegate it. File all your papers, dust and vacuum your office. Reorganize your desk and your office so that you can find everything you need in 60 seconds or less.

  • Take a mini-vacation from work. Walk away from your office and enjoy a day or two of renewal and relaxation. Go to a day spa. Take a weekend retreat. Go for a walk in the local park. Breathe.

  • Get ready for tax season. If your business slows down during December, no worries! Use that time to prepare your tax files so that you can whiz through tax season (it's coming sooner than you expect!). Tally business-related mileage for year. Estimate your last tax payment for the current year (many self-employed people make quarterly estimated tax payments; the final payment is usually due on January 15). Send your final invoices for the current year.

  • If the slow time falls around the holidays, use them to your advantage. Get into the holiday spirit with your clients by mailing holiday cards and gifts to them. Make specially-discounted holiday offers to clients/customers. Offer them gift certificates that they can give to their family and friends for your services and products.

  • Do your accounting. Enter all revenue and expenses into your recordkeeping system. Balance your checkbook.

  • Become goal-oriented. Take this down-time to look at your current goals, to see how you're doing so far and to write some new goals for the next 12 months. Create an updated marketing plan and budget. Make sure your budget includes a cash reserve to cover you during slow business times. Even if this business slow time falls mid-year, you can still spend time planning for the next 12-24 months.

  • Go back to school. List the topics you'd like to study, the classes you'd like to take, or the books you'd like to read, to keep you up-to-date with your industry and business skills. Use your quiet business times to read, study and add to your intelligence pool.

  • Get some personal chores done. Slow business times are ideal to schedule your annual dental and eye exams. It's also a great time to clean out the attic, garage or basement. Remember, a strong personal foundation helps to propel your business forward.

  • Go shopping. No, not for personal items (though that's always fun!), but for business items. Have you been putting off buying a new PC? Now's the time to research what's out there and determine your next computer purchase. Is your office chair uncomfortable? Spend some time at office furniture stores "butt-testing" for a quality office chair that will support you properly. Stock up your office supplies. Buy some music CDs to play in your office to inspire you.

  • Spend time with family and friends. When business is busy, it's easy to sequester yourself away to get all that work done. Now that business is slow, come out of your cocoon and visit with family and friends. They've been wondering where you've disappeared to!

    As you can see, slow business times can be used productively to prepare you for the next burst of business coming your way. Renew your business, your office, your Self, and create a firm foundation for the busy business days ahead! Always ask yourself, "How can I use these days wisely?"

    About The Author

    Karyn Greenstreet is a Self Employment expert and small business coach. She shares tips, techniques and strategies with self-employed people to boost clarity and focus, create sustainable motivation, and increase sales and profits. Visit her website at www.PassionForBusiness.com.

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Media Training: Seven Ways to Instantly Improve Your Media Interviewing Skills

    Imagine if you were going to address a stadium full... Read More

    7 Tips for Home Business Start-up Success

    1) Prepare a realistic business plan.Think of this as your... Read More

    Ten Steps To Better Listening

    Talking is the least important half of any conversation. Listening... Read More

    Event Planning: Seven Best Practices Successful Planners Use

    Do you plan events for the corporate world like product... Read More

    Ten Tips for Cross Cultural Communication

    Here are some simple tips to help you improve your... Read More

    Seven Keys to Get Out of a Rut

    Rut -- a routine procedure, situation, or way... Read More

    7 Money Saving Tips to Decrease Home Business Expenses

    We all know that running a home business is highly... Read More

    How To Make $20.00 For Every $1.00 Invested

    It has been said you can lift the Rock... Read More

    Top 7 Tips For Writing Your Marketing Plan

    A lot of people are at a loss when it... Read More

    Top Ten Reasons to Write a Sales Letter for Each Product? - Part 1

    Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know... Read More

    10 Steps for Simplifying Business Plan Financial Statements

    For most business owners and entrepreneurs, preparing, and communicating the... Read More

    11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Michael Dell

    1. Think Big ? In college, Michael Dell said he... Read More

    Top Ten Ways to Manage Interruptions

    So many people I worked with said they got more... Read More

    The 10 Benefits of Cross Cultural Training

    Cross cultural differences can and do impede upon communication and... Read More

    The Seven Secrets of Top Performers

    Let's put to rest the fallacy that success, in sales... Read More

    Performance-Stress-Motivation: 7 Sanity Saving Business Boundaries

    The lack of strong boundaries is one of the chief... Read More

    The Top 7 Marketing Tips You Dont Want To Overlook

    1. Combine Emotion and LogicConsumers buy because the want to... Read More

    Top 7 Ways to Profit from Foreign Trade

    Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More

    Tips to Starting your Own Busniess

    The 9-to-5 grind can make you feel like a just... Read More

    Top Ten Tips: Where to Get the Best Business Books Now!

    There are many places you can get books, and I... Read More

    10 Ways to Develop A Free Agent Attitude

    Whether you are self employed or you work for someone... Read More

    How To Move Your Business Online in 7 Steps

    So you have set up your company, fairly established and... Read More

    Top Ten Tips for Participating in Online Business Expos

    Are you ready for a BASH? Have you ever been... Read More

    Plan Your Success In Seven Ways

    Many businesses lose money yearly because they don't think creatively... Read More

    Ten Tips For Starting A New Job

    1. Get to know people. First meet those people in... Read More

    Top 10 Items to Review & Build Your Business Now!

    In building and runnng an independent private practice or small... Read More

    7 Reasons Why Training Doesn?t Produce the Desired Results and What You Can Do To

    Seven Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and... Read More

    Ten Ways to Manage a Rapidly Growing Business

    While some new business owners face the issue of not... Read More

    7 Reasons You Want Referral Business and How to Get Them

    Studies have proven that there is one reason why people... Read More

    Management, Balance & Time - 10 Tips for Managing Overwhelm in your Business

    How many of us have been in a position where... Read More

    How To Finally Unlock Your True Potential And Discover The Secret To Lasting Success

    Did you know that there is one critical difference between... Read More

    Ten Tips for Working at Home

    1. Maintain regular working hours and stick to them.2. Get... Read More

    Bookkeeping Techniques For Morons

    Please don't think I am calling you a "moron" to... Read More