Owning a small business should not mean kissing goodbye to holidays. Taking a break from work is essential for all of us to avoid summer burnout.
It’s good for your health, mental wellbeing and for your business too. A chance to recharge the batteries, make future plans and take time to see the business from a different perspective.
Are you able to take a week, or even a day, off work?
As a small business owner leaving the helm of your ship can be difficult. The challenge of ensuring that you have basic cover to enable the continued smooth running of the company in your absence. There are the logistics of how to handle your calls, reply to your emails, follow up on business development leads and ensure projects are kept on track and running smoothly.
Sometimes the effort of managing the tussle of work commitments as well as enjoying your hard earned holiday can seem like more hassle than it’s worth. Sound familiar? A virtual assistant can provide an ideal solution.
Recent research indicated that nearly 1 in 10 business owners have not taken a holiday in 10 years. Many business owners work on the basis that if they are not working they are not earning. 62% indicated that potential loss of earnings is the primary issue that prevents them from taking time off work
Learning to let go
A holiday is not a holiday if you cannot switch off in the faith that your business is in safe hands. You can return recharged and rejuvenated with a business that is running up to speed and isn’t going to leave you with a holiday hangover. It’s a chance to switch from problem solver to blue sky thinking and relaxation can help promote creativity. There are many examples of small business owners striking some of their best business ideas during a break from routine.
We Keep Your Business Making Money
A Virtual PA can manage the office and keep the day-to-day running of the business on track in your absence. Safe in the knowledge that it’s ‘business as usual’ will allow you time to relax and enjoy your well earned break returning to work refreshed and with batteries re-charged. Taking calls, responding to emails, analysing whether correspondence needs immediate attention or can wait until after your return. By sending a daily digest of key information, executives can remain ‘online’ even when they’re not.
If you really can’t switch off, and you would gain comfort from having some form of daily or bi-daily digest, then your PA can arrange to for this to be sent through. This can be organised at the close of business each day so that you can feel happy with progress.
Hit the Ground Running
Experts at what they do, many of our PAs stem from a background supporting leaders in blue-chip, multi-nationals as well as from entrepreneurial careers themselves. Our dynamic and competent team hit the ground running and have the know-how required to lead their clients in where and how to make best use of their support. There’s no training required.
Tasks that a PA can help with
A PA can help with the following:
- taking phone calls
- responding to emails
- dealing with post
- analysing whether correspondence needs immediate action or it can wait until after your return.
- forwarding daily digest updates
- managing your diary for your return
- delegation so that work still progresses in your absence
- project management to ensure tasks are completed, deadlines are met and that works are kept on track
- following up on sales leads
- invoicing and chasing up outstanding payments
This list is by no means ad infinitum. There are so many ways that we help and support small business and entrepreneurs. We tailor our support to suit your business needs.
How it works
Each Buy Time customer is carefully assigned a dedicated assistant who works in accordance with their client’s individual needs. We adapt to our clients – working from their office, home or virtually. Our company’s scale means there is always someone in the team with the right expertise, and available to assist.
A Cost Effective Solution
Our focus is our client. We therefore offer a flexible and transparent pricing structure, with no membership, contract or joining fees. There is no minimum requirement, simply Buy Time as it’s needed. Your dedicated PA will flex up or down based on your business workload.
For a chat about how we can help support you and your business this holiday season please contact info@buy-time.co.uk or 0203 292 0566.