Will you be taking a holiday, or taking the business on holiday with you?

Holiday time is coming into view. You can see, feel and smell the end of 2026.

End of year can look different to different businesses. Many business owners choose this time of year to take a break.

When we were operating a compliance focussed business, going on holiday often meant taking the office with us packed in a suitcase. Some of our clients worked when we were on a holiday and needed a scaled down service. Our holidays always involved some travel. I saw it as a part-time holiday; a few hours of work followed by more hours of travel or sightseeing.

That is one version of an end of year break. Some owners close their businesses, walk away and come back after a proper rest. Others leave a skeleton team working and keep an eye on things from wherever they are.

For retailers, hospitality, tourism and others, Christmas can be one of the busiest periods of the year. They make the most of it and take their holidays at another time.

For some it’s business as usual as their services are needed throughout the year.

There is no single version that suits everyone. But if you are hoping for a break, it is time to plan now to get the best from that break.

What comes with you on holiday?

While a complete break from business can be valuable for many reasons, a decent holiday may not mean switching off entirely.

There were times when I worked because I didn’t get through my to-do list before starting that break.I completed it during a break rather than come back to an old to-do list in a new year. Other times it was to avoid coming back to a backlog.

Sometimes we find it difficult to mentally step away from our business. When we’re so used to being responsible for everything, being available and solving problems can become a habit. Even when nothing urgent needs our attention, we check e-mails and find something to do because stepping away feels uncomfortable.

There are practical concerns too. Your team may still be working. Customers may need attention. Bills and suppliers still need paying, and cash flow may not give us the luxury of shutting down completely.

If that sounds like you, how do you intentionally manage what goes with you on holiday?

What would a good break look like for you? If a break means switching off for most of the day, clear boundaries around when you work can make a difference. If you have a team working, allocate a time when you are available rather than leave them expecting you to answer emails throughout the day.Time blocking may be your best friend when you want to have a good break.

Setting boundaries, letting others know of your availability and sticking to those commitments can make it easier to get the “holiday” hours you planned. If we continue to respond outside the hours, it can become harder for others to know when we’re available.

In a team, the business owner is not the only one who can make decisions. Team members are better placed to make good decisions when they have clear guidance and know they are trusted. Preparing the team to step up makes it easier to step away.

Think about the beginning, as well as the end

When we plan for our year end break, it is easy to focus on finishing the year.

But what about starting the next one? Knowing where you want to start in the new year and preparing for that can make it easy to enjoy the break.

What are your goals for next year? With those goals in mind, where do you want the business to be when you return?

Are you planning to launch a product or start with confirmed work in the pipeline or do you simply want to return without a pile of unfinished commitments?

That gives the preparation a clearer purpose.

There may not be enough capacity to do everything. Finding that out now gives us time to adjust priorities, timelines or expectations, rather than discovering it in the last week before the break.

Preparation depends on how you plan to take your break

Closing the business completely, having your team to run it, or working a few hours here and there will each require a different plan.

For a business continuing to trade, preparation includes having enough stock, the right people available and cash to support the work.

If you are leaving a team in charge, providing the necessary resources and clarifying tasks, decision making responsibilities and when to contact you can assist the team work independently

For a business closing or heading into a quiet period, the focus is different. Completing as much of the work within the proposed timelines, communicating your closure to relevant parties and making sure there is enough cash for payments during and after the break can make the break less stressful.

Organising for work to return to and planning for contingencies will make it a productive return.

Three things that matter most

Planning for a holiday doesn’t have to be a massive exercise. We cannot expect everything to work out perfectly.

Start with the three most important things that need to be ready before you, or the people you depend on, go into holiday mode. A short list is more achievable than a long to -do list. Work out what needs to be complete, who does it and by when.

A weekly check-in keeps the plan alive. It could be a quick conversation or a simple progress update.

For a business entering its busiest season, that rhythm supports an active plan through the period. For one preparing to close, it keeps the important work moving towards the break.

Before the weeks disappear, perhaps it is worth taking a little time to consider where you are now, where you want to be before the holidays and what you want to return to.

What are the three things that would make the biggest difference to your break, and your start to next year?

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The ideas, insights and client stories we share come from our own work and practical experience, with AI used for editorial support.

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