Running a small business is always going to have its ups and downs - some months will feel busy, exciting, and like you’re going somewhere, and others feel really quiet because your sales have slowed down, customers disappear for a bit, and suddenly you’re wondering how to keep things going. 

The good news is you’re in the same boat as a lot of other business owners because many businesses go through slower seasons once in a while. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, but it does mean it’s time to do a few new things to get things moving again. With that in mind, here are some smart ways to keep your business running during slow season - read on to find out more. 

Stay On Top Of Your Cash

One thing that’s probably going to happen during slow periods is that money might feel quite tight, so you might be worrying about paying bills, staff, or perhaps even restocking, which can be very stressful. To get past this issue, it makes sense to plan as much as you can in advance, and to just assume that there are going to be slow times - if it turns out it doesn’t happen, or it’s not as bad as you thought it would be, that’s a bonus. 

One thing that works well for some small businesses is invoice factoring, which means you get paid faster for the work you’ve already done - if you’re waiting on a customer to pay an invoice, a specialist company pays you most of the money now (the invoice amount minus their commission), and collects the payment from the customer later. It’s a great way to ensure that your cash flow keeps flowing without needing a loan, and if you remember to factor in the commission to your prices in the first place, you’re not going to be missing out on anything. 

Trim The Extras

When things slow down, it’s a good time to take a close look at where your money’s going - maybe you’re paying for software you don’t use, or maybe your energy bills are higher than they need to be, and so on. There could be all kinds of things you’re paying for that you don’t have to be spending on, and by taking a little time to go through your bank statements once in a while, you’ll soon find the issues and be able to put a stop to them. 

Of course, you don’t have to cut everything back or out altogether, but it’s worth looking for the things that aren’t helping right now. Plus, even if you think it’s only a small amount so it’s not going to be useful to stop paying, what about when you add everything up? It might not be quite such a small amount then. 

And if you’re thinking about cutting back on people, just pause for a bit and think it through because it definitely costs time and money to find great team members, and if you can keep them, even with different contracts and shorter hours, for example, it’s probably going to pay off in the end when everything gets back on track. 

Work On The Things You Don’t Usually HAve Time For 

Slow seasons are perfect for catching up and finally getting round to doing those things you’ve been putting off because you were too busy and there was always something ‘better’ or ‘more important’ to do. Well, now’s the time to finally cross them off your to-do list. 

Some things that you could do include tidying up your website, rewriting your business plan, creating a blog, making some videos to explain your products, taking better product photos, organising your stock room, training your team, sorting out paperwork and receipts… These might not be the fun things that you normally like doing, but they’re pretty important, and when you’ve got some spare time, it’s well worth getting yourself to a good point so that once orders start rushing in again, you’re not still playing catch up and you can just go ahead and pick up where you left off. 

Stay In Touch With Your Customers 

Even if your customers aren’t buying right now, they’ll still want to hear from you - in fact, it might be what reminds them they need something from you or that they could pass your name and details to a friend who was asking about something you sell. It certainly can’t hurt, and it might give you a few extra sales at a slow time. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to send out a friendly email or post something helpful on social media, for example, and remind them that you’re still here and still ready to serve them. You could share tips, behind-the-scenes stories, sneak peaks of what’s coming next, and plenty of other exciting things, and because people like to feel connected, and if they hear from you during quiet times, they’re more likely to come back when they’re ready. 

Offer Something New 

You don’t have to just wait around hoping things are going to pick up - it’s time to be proactive when things are slow, and one thing you can do is actually give your customers a reason to come back to you now, rather than later. 

This is the right time to try offering a little something extra, like a bonus item or a short-term offer, and so on. It could be that you come up with a new service you can offer that fits the season nicely, and that’s great because it means this slow season doesn’t have to be slow next time it comes around - you’ll already have something in place. 

You don’t have to put everything on sale (that’s never really a good look and it generally comes across as quite desperate, which puts people off, even if it’s a good deal!), but it’s wise to show people there’s something fresh and interesting waiting for them - it could be the nudge people need to start thinking about you and what you can do for them again. 

Think Ahead

If you know a busy season is coming later, this could be a good time to get ready for it as well - you can order supplies, plan your marketing, write content, get the team prepped, and be inspired as much as possible so that you’re one hundred percent ready. 

If you don’t do anything during your quiet time, you shouldn’t be surprised if, when everything starts getting busy again, you suddenly feel overwhelmed and stressed, and you get behind on orders from the beginning. The fact is that getting as much in place as possible when it’s quiet means that everything will be a lot easier when it’s busy, and you’ll be able to just get on with things in a calm, productive way that your customers are going to appreciate. 

Look After Yourself Too

When business is slow, stress can creep in, and you might start doubting things or feel like you’re doing something wrong, and when that happens, things that should be relatively easy to handle can feel like they’re impossible to get done; the pressure will start to mount. 

But the truth is slow seasons are perfectly normal, and every business has them - it’s true that some have more than others, but it’s still going to happen, and sometimes it’s not even something you can predict. The key is to use this time to rest a little if you can - go to bed earlier, get away from screens for a bit, spend time with family… If you’re feeling good, the business is actually going to run a lot better anyway, no matter how busy it might get. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

‍