How to Prep Your Business for the Holidays

It’s no secret that the holiday season is a hectic time for small business owners. From coordinating schedules with clients, to prepping for time sensitive projects and boosting marketing efforts — there’s a lot to keep in mind. Get your business ready for the holidays with help from this checklist.

1) Consider boosting your marketing efforts.

Whether or not you’re taking time off this season, you can generate a bit of buzz around your business by running a promotion. This could be as simple as giving a small gift card to your current customers or as enticing as offering a discount for new clients in December. However you choose to attract homeowners over the holidays, chances are, your business will be top of mind in the new year.

Tip: Check out our resource center for more tips on marketing to homeowners.

2) Let clients know of any holiday-related changes to your operations.

If you’re closing your doors on Christmas Day or switching up your hours, be sure to let customers know of any changes throughout the season. You’ll want to share the exact dates and times of any holiday closures on your website, social media pages, and via email as needed. It’s also a good idea to provide an emergency contact for your clients in case any issues arise.

3) Talk to employees about scheduling as soon as possible.

If you haven’t already, find out whether your employees plan on taking any time off for the holidays. This will help you plan ahead and avoid scheduling conflicts. Be sure to communicate your days off as well so your employees know what to expect. If you find you’ll be short-staffed for the holidays, consider hiring some seasonal help.

4) Prepare your projects ahead of time.

Avoid any holiday stress by getting ahead on your most time-sensitive projects before you (or your team) go on vacation. Order materials a bit earlier than usual to avoid seasonal shipping delays and consider auto-scheduling your social media posts so you can truly enjoy your time off. You may also want to wrap up as many ongoing jobs as possible, so you can start fresh in the new year.