The holidays are approaching and, like many business owners, you probably have a long list of tasks to finalise before closing your business for a few days or weeks.
However, it is not the major projects that most often cause problems when you return from holiday. It’s the little oversights: a salary payment that hasn’t been scheduled, a missed tax deadline, a client waiting for a reply, or an employee who finds out too late that the business is closed.
Yet a few simple checks can help you avoid many difficulties.
At Alliés Conseils, we support business owners every year during this particular period. Here are the key points we advise you to plan for before you leave.
Inform your staff well in advance
A company’s summer closure cannot be improvised.
When holidays are mandatory due to an annual closure, staff must be informed well in advance so that they can organise their own holidays.
This communication also helps to avoid misunderstandings or disputes regarding holiday dates.
Beyond the legal obligation to provide information, this is above all a matter of good management practice. A team given sufficient notice can better plan the completion of projects, inform clients and prepare for the return to work.
Planning Payroll Before You Go Away
The business may be closed, but the employer’s obligations continue.
Salaries must be paid on the usual dates, even if the manager or the admin department is on holiday.
Scheduling bank transfers, checking variable pay components, and sending the information to the accountancy firm or payroll provider: these simple checks prevent delays that can quickly lead to tension amongst staff.
For companies that outsource their payroll, it is also advisable to send the necessary information several days before the closure.
Notify your customers and suppliers
A simple message can prevent many awkward situations.
Informing your customers of your closure period helps manage their expectations and avoid unnecessary follow-ups.
Your suppliers can also adjust their deliveries, deadlines or requests for approval.
An email sent a few days before the holidays, an automatic reply on your email inbox and a notice posted on your website or social media help to maintain a good professional relationship.
This forward planning also reinforces your reputation for reliability amongst your partners.
Check your tax and social security deadlines
Government departments do not necessarily close whilst your business is on holiday.
VAT returns, URSSAF payment deadlines, corporation tax instalments, social security contributions or other reporting obligations: it is important to check the calendar before you leave.
Depending on your business, some deadlines may fall right in the middle of your closure.
Planning ahead helps you avoid penalties, late payment interest or having to deal with urgent matters when you return from holiday.
Your accountant can help you identify key dates and organise these formalities before you leave.
Preparing for a smoother return to work
A well-prepared summer closure is not just about locking up the premises.
It also involves ensuring that staff have the right information, that payments are scheduled, that business partners are informed and that key administrative obligations are dealt with in advance.
A few hours of preparation before the holidays can often save you several days of crisis management upon your return.
At Alliés Conseils, we support our clients far beyond the scope of accountancy. Our role is also to help you plan ahead for key stages in your business’s life cycle, so that you can go on holiday with greater peace of mind.
Before closing your business for the summer, do make sure to have a final chat with your accountant. Just a few minutes’ discussion could be all it takes to ensure a smooth hiatus… and a smooth return to work.
