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Why hiring a bookkeeper can keep your business running smoothly during the summer

Posted By Helen Jones, Bookkeeper, 04 August 2023

Why hiring a bookkeeper can keep your business running smoothly during the summer

 

School holidays can be tough on small business owners. Balancing work and holidays can be tricky, especially when you and your team want to take some time off with family. You want to be able to keep the business running smoothly while getting some time out.

 

That's where hiring a bookkeeper comes in. As a small business owner, you might think that you can’t afford to outsource bookkeeping tasks, but a bookkeeper can save you time, money, and stress. Here’s how. 

 

A good bookkeeper helps you stay on track with your finances

 

Regular bookkeeping is important, even if you think of yourself as just a small business. Your bookkeeping is the foundation for monitoring your sales, expenses and profits, but also your cash flow and your progress against your goals.

 

Hiring a bookkeeper during the holidays means you can keep track of your finances while you're gone. A professional bookkeeper can record and reconcile transactions, process invoices and payments and handle payroll for you. They can also identify potential bottlenecks in cash flow and spending patterns to help you adjust your budget accordingly. Additionally, a bookkeeper can also help you prepare financial statements and tax returns, saving you from returning to work knowing you have to quickly turn around a VAT return. 

 

A good bookkeeper provides valuable business advice

 

Your bookkeeper is also a business owner, and a great confidant for discussing your business goals and challenges. A good bookkeeper can help you identify areas where you can save money and make suggestions for increasing sales. They can also help you identify potential problems in your cash flow. It’s hard to delegate when you want to know everything about your business, but imagine the peace of mind of having a finance expert’s eyes on your business while you’re taking a holiday.

 

A good bookkeeper helps you prioritise your workload

 

During the holidays, there's always a temptation to either do nothing or keep working and not spend time with your family. You didn’t start your business so you could become a bookkeeper, and engaging a bookkeeper to handle your financial tasks can help you prioritise your workload so you can just do what you need to do, and enjoy time with your family. 

 

A good bookkeeper saves you time and money

 

It’s hard to think that hiring an additional person into your team is going to save you money, but bear with me. Engaging with a bookkeeper to handle tasks that aren’t your specialist area will save you time and money, and here’s how. Not doing these tasks yourself will free you up for the work you’re really meant to do in your business - where there’s a much better return on your time investment. Compare hiring a bookkeeper for £200 per month with taking on 2 new clients generating £2000 per month. Are you better off to forgo the £2000 and spend your time bookkeeping, or to earn an extra £1800 in your business this month? 

How about if you took half of that time you would have been doing the bookkeeping off as holiday instead? You’d still be £900 better off this month - just by hiring a bookkeeper. This is maths that makes sense. 

Add to this how a bookkeeper can usually save you costly mistakes in your bookkeeping and you’ll never question the value of a bookkeeper again. 

 

A good bookkeeper gives you peace of mind

 

Knowing that a professional bookkeeper is managing your finances not just while you’re away but every day of your business gives you limitless peace of mind. You can always be confident that your business finances are up to date and in good hands, so you can get on with running your business armed with the information you need to make good, timely decisions. 

 

Conclusion

 

Hiring a bookkeeper isn’t just a good move for the summer holidays, it’s a great move for the life of your business. It allows you to focus on what you really need to do as a business owner and take a break while everything financial happens smoothly behind the scenes. You don't have to worry about falling behind in your financial tasks, and you can trust that a professional is managing your finances. By leveraging the expertise of a bookkeeper, you can focus on spending quality time with your family and return to your business recharged and ready to tackle new challenges.

 

If you’d like to talk to me about how I work with small businesses like you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook or book a call.

 

Tags:  bookkeeper  finance  holidays 

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The Phenomenon of Holiday Fatigue

Posted By Maryanne Taylor, Founder and Sleep Consultant, 03 August 2023

You've meticulously researched, planned every detail, and eagerly awaited your upcoming adventure. The 'out of office' sign is up, the packing ordeal is behind you, and you've finally arrived at your holiday destination.

And out of the blue, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashes over you.

Sound familiar?

Welcome to the enigmatic world of Holiday Fatigue – where relaxation and weariness seem to intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Let's delve into this phenomenon and uncover strategies to reignite your energy levels to maximise your holiday enjoyment.

🌴 Release and Renewal:

For so long, you've been multitasking, juggling all your responsibilities, keeping those balls in the air. As you step into your well-deserved break, the chance to put those balls aside emerges.

Your body seizes this opportunity to unwind, releasing stored-up stress. The intriguing result? A curious surge of fatigue that forces you to stop.

⚡ The Adrenaline Shift:

Your body has been a powerhouse, fueled by adrenaline to conquer life's challenges. But then, the holiday rhythm arrives, and as the adrenaline gradually reduces, relaxation sets in which results in unexpected fatigue. This might just be your body's way of urging you to finally catch up on that much-needed rest. 🛫 Changes in Routine: Traveling disrupts your regular routine – from sleep patterns to meal times.

Your body's internal clock (circadian rhythm) can get thrown off balance, leading to fatigue as your body adjusts to the new schedule.

🌍 Change in Environment:

While holidays are meant to be enjoyable, being in a new environment can also be mentally draining as you navigate unfamiliar surroundings and make decisions about what to do and where to go. So how to help yourself so you don't feel like you are losing precious holiday time feeling like a zombie? Here are some suggested strategies to handle this …

Adapt the itinerary:

Balance sightseeing and activities with time to rest and recharge. Try to avoid over-scheduling which can end up being more stressful and take away from some of the enjoyment. Time Zone Awareness: If traveling across time zones, plan an easy and less demanding schedule for the first day to acclimatise. Scheduled Breaks: Incorporate short breaks during outings. Find a quiet spot to sit, close your eyes, and recharge.

Post-Holiday Buffer:

Plan a buffer day before returning to work. This provides extra time to unwind and transition gradually back to your routine. Remember, the goal is to create a holiday that rejuvenates rather than exhausts. By proactively adapting your plans to accommodate holiday fatigue, you can ensure a more revitalising and fulfilling travel experience. Tell me in the comments how you will be incorporating downtime into your summer plans.

Tags:  energy  fatigue  Healthy sleep habits  Holidays  relaxation  sleep  strategies  summer  wellbeing 

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