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No Summer Vacation for Small Businesses

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    Pamela Springer explains what's on the mind of owners.

  • Duration 8:54
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-- -- kick things off talking to Pamela springer the CEO of -- which is an online community for small businesses.

And on there's a recent survey that shows that.

You know summertime -- kick back and relax but small business owners.

Just can't seem to do that -- -- here we have an interesting view of small business -- that we are the largest online community for small businesses.

And 50% of them said this year -- not able to take a vacation.

An increasingly.

They are even -- Less.

Able to hire people in the summer months let -- take -- vacation so it's -- looking that break for small business solar system year why they are less able to hire in the summer.

Well they were very optimistic last year thinking between twelve was going to be the year they -- -- you know the recession might be over.

Turning the corner and ends up that is not looking that way at all for them so 70% this year so they're not gonna hire.

In the summer.

A huge contrast to -- is that because the election is coming in the fall.

You know it's up partially -- more optimistic thinking that there's India GOP candidate in place -- guy in the fall but honestly it you know the recession was hard on them.

And it never really turned the corner the meaning.

They.

Being the demand that that revenues in the new customers weren't as large in -- prolific as it was maybe for large companies right so there's still in hunker down mode.

And therefore doing glass.

Having to do more with less.

Rate and it seems likely have almost the same story for so many years at this point in waiting for like he said something to turn a corner and it's just not doing that.

How do you think of a small businesses out there -- president.

According to our surveys from our businesses our business owners that they they don't feel like -- -- -- priority small business is not a priority for them.

Why is that.

They are worried about taxes you know tax liabilities are remote health care.

And they were for a long time -- about how to get them additional capital.

And not seeing huge legislation or initiatives coming from the Obama administration to help them -- Yes I know there's been tons of reports done showing that.

The administration isn't that.

Supportive of small businesses.

And policies that this tax hike going into effect next year -- many people.

It raises the -- happen.

On many of them.

There it to pass then they're really playing defense right in upcoming announcements and now just so frustrating to hear so many people comments there hear and see the exact same thing not because here.

Not being dynamic -- the -- this situations not changing it or not turning a corner.

But the one thing they are doing there are embracing online and they are embracing mobile yes that's trillion sales up up up for -- yes so.

They are embracing online and you know for example we have a business owner who's a marketing consultants and he goes into our online community any answers a lot of questions of business owners have -- hot market their businesses as a result he gets following and as a result of that he gets new customers so they're having to be.

They're having to think through how to acquire new customer.

A little bit more efficiently and online help some with that OK and so you know another customer has a contractor in Indiana right was only getting a few visitors to his site every month.

Signed up with -- and not only just received a 45000.

Dollar order for someone finding him online.

But -- -- 200 visitors a month to his website so they're being resourceful -- thinking of the box they have to do more with -- and non.

Getting back to your vacation questions are really worried about leaving.

Yeah the shop because we need to when you are -- -- connected -- panic Kennelly it is on the issue work.

From the deep -- and mobile -- pressure but it also takes away that true vacation yes there's a recent report by some of the more.

The bigger executives.

-- on the nation's huge companies and they say they are better able to unplug these days well trusting their staff and it is getting away having great team -- is a big thing but as you think about ninety or 80% of US businesses have nine employees or less.

80% have nine please -- less so a lot of it does rely on the as owner and so.

The by the -- of it is at least mobile allows them to go on vacation Miami preoccupied during some hours that -- -- -- -- they can get -- the -- what happens if two people on vacation at the same time that would be disastrous okay I'm reading here that.

A third of self employed persons of work over fifty hours a week they did.

More with less bright as I think about not their ability to hire.

Is not there they don't want take the risks there's lots you know clouds on the horizon and so.

They're now willing to take the risk but they are willing to as -- mentioned earlier step out into some different things like.

Think about resources.

Online resources that mobile and that's how they're thinking about it needs more efficient it cost less.

And so there's still able to secure new customer -- seems low to me about fifty hours a week fifty hours -- yeah I mean I don't.

Everybody I know works lot more than fifty hours a week via a window for -- fifty hourly work week.

Well you know and and you know.

What I do know is that you know -- the 50% of them.

Our not going to take their vacation and 70% of them aren't going to -- and they continue to say they do work long hours especially now because they don't have.

The resource -- Now -- -- -- shocked by that stat -- in bringing Kate Rogers here with our small business center on foxbusiness.com.

Taking so let's say it is small business owners to let go of -- rains and they go on vacation whether they're using their act on or whatever while they're on vacation how do they prep for that vacation if they yes definitely so we did cover -- survey -- our small business sentiment hasn't on the these small business owners do work really long hours long weeks and they deserve a vacation so.

So with travelers insurance in the -- and tips on.

I can prepare your business for your big getaway.

Boss is knowing who can handle what tax delegates don't do it all yourself no don't micromanage definitely not and Clinton did they did give is that you cheated you this manager -- -- -- A dry run before you leave yeah you can see how he or she really handles the pressure -- handles working with.

His or her coworkers and keeps your business -- OK I was their first it.

They're second tip is to train your employees to properly managed -- your way so even if they're not going to be that.

The head person in charge.

Your clients and customers shouldn't even know that you're gone.

You want things to be running just -- smoothly yes as they are when you're in the office.

And that's to be part of your corporate cultures you know is that notion of -- and really helping one another on keeping the business -- that.

And that was their second test the thermal I think it's very important and that's having a business continuity plan in place.

And that's a plan that you can -- very easily case the disasters let's see here the hastening time.

-- some island -- you get -- you can't come back for another two weeks and at the same time your business -- They need to know what vendors to call put -- call for how -- and how to pick up.

The ball and run with it basically say to that is that and Pamela these are well any -- inflate their common mishaps that could happen to small businesses and here.

For us working up but it's a huge corporation owned by News Corp.

yet if -- out there's planning people that could replace me or if you don't think I don't think it really -- as you guys are talking.

I'm thinking of the small business -- that they do not think they have their pain but it really to overlook something that tail and and as a sentinels companies' most businesses -- -- you know under nine employees and and they do have a little that the completely like to controls -- -- relation -- control during vacation is something that.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Basically closed any loopholes on ongoing projects before he leaves he wanted to meet with.

Project managers I'll crush your business before you head out see -- out on everything and pick back up with -- get back isn't worth it.

Is all of this for a that -- will -- stay at work and work for the week.

I think it's worth and -- -- you have peace of mind when you -- away.

-- -- I think -- they connected you know and you have some of the -- people people there you can trust it's definitely worth it it's your family it's memories.

And you know hopefully some down time.

Yet again I think you do your due due diligence in hiring and -- on the right people for your business you can have more the worry free time hopefully.

RAK.

-- is Pamela springer -- for coming on agility article on foxbusiness.com.

Now.

-- to news thanks to travelers before you summer vacation and and -- -- -- month springer joins us from -- dot com.

And here's what -- -- place to go for small businesses.

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