If you're a small business owner, taking a vacation can be a stressful experience. Many entrepreneurs fear their companies will suffer while they are away.
"The irony is that vacations can be a long-term investment in the success of the business by helping owners re-charge and return to work invigorated," says Alice Bredin, small business advisor for OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express.
Bredin offers the following tips for business owners hoping to get away:
- Make a commitment. Once you decide to travel, make a financial commitment by putting down a deposit or starting a vacation fund.
- Plan ahead. Schedule your time away around long weekends and other holidays. If your business is seasonal, take an off-season vacation.
- Mix business and pleasure. Tack a vacation to the end of a business trip. This strategy can also save you money on airfare.
- Prepare your re-entry. Make sure that while you are gone, someone is in place to scan your mail, faxes and e-mail and organize them for your return.
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