smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

For most workers the summer months spell long holidays, lazy evenings and extended lunch breaks in the park, but - according to Bibby Financial Services - many entrepreneurs actually find the season one most hectic times of the year.

In response to depressing recent research from both itself and corporate recovery specialist Begbies Traynor - revealing that up to a third of small business owners expect to be unable to take any days off this summer - Bibby has developed a series of 'top tips' aimed at surviving the season.

Chief among the suggestions are reminders to: plan in advance for any surge in demand for your products, monitor your stock levels and keep your cash flowing.

With many employees also likely to disappear off on their own holidays during the period, Biddy also recommends you consider the employment of temporary staff, the delegation of responsibility to trusted workers and the development of 'a realistic plan' for the timing and duration of your own holidays.

Most damming of all the figures unearthed by Begbies Traynor was the finding that some 12 per cent of entrepreneurs have failed to take an uninterrupted two-week break for five years. This was despite 80 per cent conceding that not taking a holiday was bad for their personal relationships.

Says David Robertson, chief executive of Bibby 'providing any leave is planned and properly managed, there is no reason why busy entrepreneurs can't take a well-deserved break without minimal disruption to their business'.

For further details on Bibby's Summer Survival tips visit www.bibbygroup.co.uk.

15/7/03

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