Tips to Prepare Your Business for a Winter Shutdown
As most business owners invest adequate time and money to boost sales throughout the COVID festive season shopping, others will choose to save their working capital and instead shut down operations, hoping 2021 will be better. A small company may close down operations during winter for several reasons. At times, it's not because the business is slow, but instead, the owner needs an official pardon after a year of managing the company.

During these times when there's no one trustworthy enough to take care of your daily operations, pulling the plug on for a few weeks or maybe a month is the best idea. But first, you need to prepare your business for a winter shutdown, e.g., by seeking business interruption insurance, planning for inspection, informing customers, etc., because leaving without a plan will mean difficulties when it's time to reopen. Closing Down for winter: How to Do it Right If you're not ready for the festive season shopping, then it's okay to close and plan for 2021. Here's how to shut down operations temporarily if you're closing down.

1-Informyourclients about the closure
Be sure to inform clients that the company will be closing down for a given span. You'll need to utilize numerous methods to convey this message. If possible, use a multi-prong system that will allow you to post the news on your social media platform and put signs in your physical/brick-and-mortar shop. Adequately communicating the impending shut down can increase last-minute sales from consumers who want to shop before it's too late. As a result, you get to deal with customer expectations, thus trimming down the number of disappointed prospects.

2-Sort out fixed expenses
Taking a winter season break means you steer clear of all operational costs and expenses like payroll and inventory purchases. However, you still have to cover the several fixed expenses that you can't stay away from even during shut down to ensure the smooth running of operations when you reopen. Clearing essential bills like gas bills and many other vital costs is an excellent way to prepare your business for a winter shutdown.

3-Organize for Regular Inspections
If you have a physical store, delegate someone to inspect the building from time to time. Prioritize security and the facilities in your premises. Ask them to check utility lines, heating systems and electricity, and any other thing that can cause damage while you are away.

4-Get a Business Interruption Insurance
Seeking insurance cover is another must-do to prepare your business for a winter shutdown. Some insurance products will cover a COVID festive season shutdown-- more so if it qualifies as an unexpected closure--, and cover any losses with that period. For instance, a Business Interruption Insurance caters for the revenue losses due to a disruption that interferes with business functions.

5-Publicize the reopening
Use several media to announce the reopening, just like you did during the closure. If possible, try adding in special promotions, discounts, or sales to concur with the reopening. This move will help you attract back customers that moved on to your counterparts when you chose to shutter and boost up the morale of customers who've been waiting to shop with you. Launching special sales when you revive not only spreads the news about the reopening but also allows you to reawaken further interest in your company. And lastly,

6-You may want to reconsider the closure.
Closing, on the other hand, has its downsides. On top of the fact that you risk losing customers and revenue, it could also cause financial stress for your staff. So instead of planning a closedown, consider applying for a loan to help you prepare for whatever challenge you're facing.

How to Conquer Worry If Your Close Down for winter.
As you prepare your business for a winter shutdown, you may be torn between closing down and staying open. And while it's okay to think about your company, Don't let depression Kill YOU and Your BUSINESS! In his bestseller –How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Dale Carnegiepoints out that "Business owners who don't learn how to fight WORRY die young." And goes ahead to explain that when everyone is telling you everything else you need to know to succeed in business, no one is talking about worry— a deadly disease killing most business and their owners.

It takes a lot of courage and optimism to be a Small business owner or entrepreneur. After coming up with a new idea, you have to implement it. This entire process is risk-taking to see if your fresh idea can turn out successful or fail. As you struggle to move forward confidently, you often torture yourself by reflecting on previous mistakes. Sometimes, you think of what you haven't achieved and begin comparing your current state versus where you feel you should be by now. Indeed, small business owners and entrepreneurs often face sad moments and depression. But currently, more and more are fighting depression and eliminating both stereotypes and stigma. As you prepare your business for a winter shutdown, discover a few inspiring thoughts to get back on your feet when you're down in the dumps

• Everybody feels depressed at one time or another; never think you are solo.
• Don't try to hide your despair; it helps to admit your feelings. And when you share these challenging times with the people you trust, you get support and help them realize that they are never alone.
• Whatever you are going through is temporary. One unpaid loan shouldn't drain you of your energy. As Dale Carnegie puts it, "don't let the beetles get you down." A problem is only as big as you make it look.
• Always remember there's a superior power watching over you. Let's admit it; everyone needs religion, spirituality, and prayer. And this thought often strikes best during the blues.
• Like pretty much everything in life, entrepreneurship has its highs and lows. Without the lows, we cannot fully appreciate the good times.
• Your personality is best defined by how you deal with hard times and not a success.
• Tough times are often a stepping stone to future victory.
• A positive mindset can help you change your focus to solving the problem rather than grieving over it. Always remember these quotes when you find yourself drowning in a pool of endless thoughts.

Getting the Balance between Your Business and Personal Life
It's okay to prepare your business for a winter shutdown because you need that vital work-life balance. Operating an upcoming micro-business is a demanding task. The hard reality is; if you don't invest in a large workforce to handle the different aspects of your company, you'll end up responsible for most of the duties. This may seem like you're in perfect control of your company, but in the end, you'll notice you're missing the balance between work and family. Many studies have exposed that many startup business owners feel they focus more on work than on their personal lives.

It's easy to get absorbed in your everyday tasks. Sometimes you even think that taking a break will slow your success. On the other hand, failure to achieve the right work/life balance mess your personal life and affect your physical & psychological health; and eventually, ruin your professional career. So how do you run your company without compromising your life? Here's a guide.

Set a fixed work schedule and respect it
If you want to get on top of things in your life and business, you must use your time wisely. When drafting a work/life schedule, don't forget to concentrate on your off-duty needs. For example, if your household holds a family get-together every week, then make sure you leave time for that. Also, inform other workers of your plans, and let them know that sometimes you won't be around to handle business matters. Likewise, let your family know specific hours when you're free to be with them and when it's time to be at work. This way, you can, without a doubt, run your company without compromising the wellness of your family.

Make the Most of Work hours
Are you using your work hours to the fullest? Or are you wasting most of it? If you plan to work from9 a.m. to 5 p.m., then develop a strategy to utilize most of your work hours. Start by evaluating how you spend your working hours. Do you waste most of it running around in circles with rather useless conversations or focus on getting the actual job done? How much time do you waste on meetings discussing issues that can be quickly addressed using emails or mulled over at tea break? Making constructive use of the time you have will ensure you don't eat into family time. On top, it will boost your startup's productivity. If there's a need to change one or two things in the office—e.g., its layout— to speed things up, then you can get a loan.

All work and No Play" is No-No!
Even as you prepare your business for a winter shutdown, you will be engaged with plans to reopen come 2021. It's normal to fear that setting limits to working hours and staying away from duty when it's time to do so will slow your success. Spending time with your relatives off duty can help you balance between work and life— and in due course lead to better business performance.