Spring may still be weeks away, but if your business is seasonal — and your season is summer — it’s time to start getting things organized. The more you can do before opening day, the easier it will be to stay cool when business and the weather heat up.
GET YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER
Operating a seasonal business means having to squeeze a year’s worth of business into a few months and then make your earnings last the entire year. You have to resist the temptation to overspend when cash is plentiful. So, before you start scrubbing walls or unpacking boxes, make sure your business finances are in order.
Go over last year’s budget carefully to see what changes may be necessary. Run some financial projections. Then check your progress frequently during the season to make sure you’re on track.
REVISIT AND RETHINK YOUR MARKETING PLANS
Give some thought as to how you plan to market your business. If you’re adding new product lines or services for the coming season, there may be new markets you can tap. Think about tweaking your website to give it a fresher look. If your client base is mobile friendly but your website isn’t, it may be time to upgrade.
START HIRING EARLY
If you’re hoping to rehire some of last season’s newer workers, the sooner you get in touch with them, the better. Once you know how many vacancies you have to fill, you can even start advertising and interviewing.
FOCUS ON THE DETAILS
This is a great time to take care of any needed repairs and to put on that fresh coat of paint. You also have time to search for deals and compare prices, which could result in substantial savings. Shop for items you regularly keep in stock and any equipment you need to buy or replace.
Before you know it, summer will be here.