Coping with School Holidays as a Small Business

Here in Wales, we are well into the summer school holiday and it got me to thinking about how you, as a small business can cope with 6 weeks of children at  home.  So…

Let’s be honest—school holidays can feel like a juggling act for small business owners. Whether you’re running things solo or managing a small team with kids, when term ends, life gets that bit more complicated. You’ve got work to do, customers to keep happy, and suddenly there are children needing attention, childcare falling through, and everything feeling a bit up in the air.

If you’re a sole trader or have a few staff members (especially ones with young children), this one’s for you. We’re diving into how to survive and even *thrive* during school holidays without losing your head or letting your business slide.

Why School Holidays Are So Tricky for Small Businesses

First off, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room. School holidays aren’t just about kids getting a break. For small businesses, they can mean:

• Staff needing time off (sometimes at short notice)
• Reduced productivity (because kids at home equals distractions)
• Unpredictable customer demand—some sectors and locations go quiet, others get busier
• Increased stress levels all round

Unlike bigger companies, you don’t always have cover or loads of backup. It’s all a bit tighter, and when one piece shifts, the whole puzzle changes.

Plan Ahead as Much as You Can

It sounds obvious, but planning ahead is your best friend. Grab a school calendar (or better yet, ask your staff to share theirs), and get key dates into your work diary. Half terms, inset days, summer holidays—they all count.

Once you’ve got the dates down, start thinking about how your business will handle each break. Will you need extra help? Can you schedule lighter workloads? Are there any projects that can be moved forward or pushed back?

You won’t be able to plan for everything, but having a rough idea helps a lot. Plus, it gives your team time to arrange childcare or flag any dates they’ll definitely need off.

Talk to Your Team Early

If you’ve got staff, get those conversations in early. It’s not about being strict—it’s about being clear. Let them know you understand school holidays are tricky, and you want to find a balance that works for everyone.

Ask:

• What dates they’ll likely need off
• If they can work different hours (like early mornings or evenings)
• Whether they’re open to hybrid or home working (if that’s possible)

By chatting early, you avoid last-minute surprises and can build a more flexible rota that works for the business and the parents in your team.

Be Honest with Your Customers

Sometimes, small businesses try to keep everything running exactly as normal, even when things are anything but. That’s a fast way to burnout.

Instead, be upfront with your customers. If your hours will change slightly, or you’ll be slower to respond, let them know. Most people understand—especially if you’re a small or family-run business. A quick post on social media, an update on your website, or an auto-reply on your emails can go a long way.

Honesty beats silence every time.

Offer Flexible Working Where You Can

Whether it’s you, your staff, or both—being flexible helps. School holidays often mean patchy childcare, unexpected illnesses, or just the need to be more available for your kids. If it’s possible, try offering:

• Earlier or later working hours
• Split shifts (like working in two shorter chunks)
• Working from home
• Job sharing or temporary cover

This is especially useful over long holidays like summer, when six weeks can feel like forever (unless you are a child and you are in week 5 or 6 of the holiday). A bit of give and take means work still gets done, and everyone feels a bit less stressed.

Make Use of Technology

There are loads of tools out there that can make your life easier during holidays. Here are a few worth looking into:

• Scheduling tools: Automate posts on social media, blog uploads, or emails
• Shared calendars: Keep track of who’s working when
• Task management apps: These can help you stay on top of things
• Communication tools: Slack or WhatsApp groups for quick team check-ins

These help keep things running smoothly, even if you or your staff are only online part of the day.

Look After Yourself, Too

This one’s important. If you’re running a business and juggling kids during the holidays, you’ve got two full-time jobs at once. It’s exhausting.

Try not to overload your schedule. Be realistic about what you can get done. Take proper breaks where you can (even if it’s just a cuppa in silence while the kids are watching telly), and don’t beat yourself up if things slip a bit.

Your wellbeing is just as important as the business.

Get Creative with Childcare

Let’s talk about one of the biggest headaches—childcare. If you’re a sole trader or your team have young kids, it can be tough to find (and afford) cover. Here are some options that might help:

• Swap days with friends or family: You take their kids one day, they take yours another
• Holiday clubs: Some are council-run and more affordable than private childcare
• Shared childcare with other parents in business: Take turns minding the kids so each of you gets work time
• Bring the kids to work (if it’s safe): Set them up with a tablet or colouring at the corner of your office

It’s rarely perfect, but sometimes a mix of options can get you through the week.

Think About Adjusting Your Services Temporarily

Depending on your business type, it might be worth tweaking your services during holiday periods. For example:

• If you run a shop or café, could you open an hour later or close early a couple of days a week?
• If you offer 1-to-1 services, could you group appointments or offer shorter sessions?
• If you’re a maker or creative, could you focus on batching and order fulfilment rather than launches?

These small changes can take some pressure off without affecting your bottom line too much.

Use Holidays for Business Development (If You Can)

If business is a bit quieter during the holidays, that can actually be a chance to get other stuff done—like updating your website, sorting your admin, writing content, or planning new services.

Of course, this only works if you’ve got enough breathing room. If you’re running around after toddlers or doing school runs all day, don’t force it. But if the time’s there, use it wisely!

Don’t Be Afraid to Slow Down

This might go against every instinct you’ve got as a small business owner, but hear me out: sometimes it’s okay to slow down.

The world won’t end if you don’t post on Instagram for a week or if orders take a little longer to process. People take holidays. Customers understand. It’s better to set boundaries and take care of yourself than to run yourself into the ground trying to “do it all”.

If you’ve got staff, encourage them to slow down a little too. Working flat out with children at home isn’t sustainable.

Have a Post-Holiday Catch-Up Plan

Once the kids are back at school, give yourself and your team a bit of time to catch up. Maybe block out a morning to sort through emails, tidy up the to-do list, and reset your systems.

Try not to book too much in for that first week back—think of it as your recovery week! You’ll all get more done if you ease back in, rather than diving straight into a mountain of work.

You’re Doing Better Than You Think

If school holidays have left you frazzled, tired, and wondering how everyone else seems to be managing, here’s a gentle reminder: you’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.

Running a business is hard. Raising kids is hard. Doing both at the same time, without the resources of a big team or loads of childcare? That’s superhero stuff.

So take a breath. Do what you can. Let go of the guilt when things don’t go to plan. And remember, this phase doesn’t last forever. The holidays will end. Your routine will return. And your business will still be there, waiting for you.

Hang in there—you’ve got this.