Ensuring a smooth vacation as a roofing contractor

By Dani Sheehan. 

Discover 5 essential tips to help your business thrive while you enjoy a well-deserved break. 

Everyone deserves to take a break and enjoy a vacation, whether you’re the newest member of the crew or a long-time owner of your company. The demanding nature of running a small business, especially during the industry’s busiest season, makes it critical to take time off to rest, recharge and spend quality time with loved ones. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of jobs in your queue this summer, it might be a sign that you need a vacation more than ever. Ruby put together essential steps to take before going on vacation to ensure that your business runs smoothly in your absence. 

1 – Inform your crew and customers 

Once you’ve decided on the dates for your vacation, make sure your crew is aware of your plans and inform any customers where you are working on active projects well in advance. This helps you provide guidance to your employees on any issues that might arise so that the business can continue operating effectively, and you manage customer expectations to prevent any confusion or frustration while you disconnect from work. 

2 – Prioritize your workload and complete time-sensitive tasks 

Determine any tasks that need to be completed before you leave, what can be delegated to others and what can wait until you return. Consider holding off on accepting new projects too close to the start of your vacation and double check that your crews have all the necessary information and resources to keep active projects running smoothly while you’re away. 

3 – Settle outstanding financial matters 

Going on vacation is a great time to evaluate your books, process any outstanding payments and remind customers of any pending invoices. These are items on your to-do list that you may be avoiding but tackling them in the weeks leading up to your vacation will give you peace of mind to truly unplug from work. 

4 – Set up an autoresponder or utilize a virtual receptionist 

Set up automatic messages for your phone and email to notify anyone who reaches out during your vacation to help manage expectations and consider leaving a back-up contact for any important messages that can’t wait. You can also consider using a virtual receptionist, like Ruby, to handle your calls and customer inquiries while you’re on vacation. They can take messages, schedule appointments and provide information to prospective customers to ensure your business remains responsive and customer focused. 

5 – Commit to your vacation 

Perhaps the most important step as a business owner is to commit to relaxing on your vacation. Set up all the logistics early enough that you feel confident stepping away. Avoid checking emails and shut off notifications on your phone – better yet, leave your work phone at home! By fully disconnecting, you’ll return to your business refreshed and ready to tackle new projects. 

Explore additional topics that matter most to your business in Ruby’s resource library. 

Much more than a virtual assistant, answering calls, scheduling appointments, customer intake, payment collection and more, Ruby does it all, so busy contractors don’t have to. As a member of the RoofersCoffeeShop® community, you can use code RCS100 to save $100 on your first three months with Ruby!