[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.23″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”table-contents” _builder_version=”4.23″ background_color=”#f3f2f6″ custom_padding=”25px||25px||true|false” sticky_position=”top” sticky_limit_bottom=”section” sticky_position_tablet=”top” sticky_position_phone=”none” sticky_position_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ text_font=”||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}” background__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_2_font_size=”32px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The end-of-year shutdown period is a time of well-deserved rest for employers and workers, as well as an opportunity to review a few things about your business. As the new year approaches, our mindset can often default to going through the motions until the holidays. However, preparing for the next year beforehand means you can hit the ground running.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s have a look at what you can do to prepare your business for the end-of-year shutdown.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.reckon.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutdown-Communication-groups.png” alt=”Two squares with a customer Icon and an employees icon” title_text=”Shutdown Communication Groups” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-30px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body & Ending” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Letting your customers and employees know about the scheduled shutdown is an obvious task, but also something you need to be absolutely clear about.<\/p>\n
When communicating with customers about your shutdown, the most important things are:<\/p>\n
When communicating with customers, make sure that they are up to date with all payable invoices<\/a>. As you enter the new year, the last thing your business needs is poor cash flow. For instance, if you primarily operate as a business-to-business (B2B) company, in some circumstances, you may have 30, 60, or 90 payment windows from specific customers. The shutdown could pose an issue where December adds another month of non-payment.<\/p>\n Your discussions with your employees should cover two things:<\/p>\n The end-of-year shutdown comes as a much-needed break for your employees, so make sure to cap everything off with the obligatory housekeeping requirements, as well as what their future looks like. Not every employee is there for the long term, but those who are should be prioritised as a skills investment<\/a>. When discussing with your employees, consider addressing pay (if necessary), their career goals, and opportunities for skill development.<\/p>\n For your finances, ensure that you tie up any loose accounting ends, including accounts payable<\/a>, receivable, and inventory management. You also want to review your business goals. This review can range from:<\/p>\n Having a clear picture of your finances and what you want your business to achieve is wise going into every year. When you reopen, you’re not looking to get back up to speed. This will also help you enjoy the break, rather than creating anxiety about tasks to do when you return.<\/p>\n Each year brings some sort of industry change, large or small, and not being prepared for them can pose risks to your business. This is why keeping up to date with small business news<\/a> is important.<\/p>\n For instance, in 2026, there will be a huge compliance change for businesses regarding superannuation contributions. Payday Super requires businesses to pay employee super contributions within seven business days of salary and wages<\/a>. If you don\u2019t have a plan, you might scramble to find a payroll solution<\/a> that keeps you compliant and eases the additional administrative burden.<\/p>\n Another critical aspect of the end-of-year shutdown is your own plans to take time off. Running a business is stressful, and the shutdown period provides ample rest to focus on yourself and your family. Since burnout affects up to 1 in 2 small business owners in Australia, you need to prioritise your own health. Failing to address burnout<\/a> will ultimately lead to more problems in the long run, such as needing to take more time off for health reasons.<\/p>\n Completing your checklist for the shutdown period will prepare you for reopening. The opportunity to examine your business and its components holistically will help shape your expectations and understand what your business can do next year. With a plan in place, you have peace of mind knowing that when you do shut down, your business is covered, and you have time to relax and enjoy your summer holidays.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_social_share icon_bg=”#03002e” icon_padding=”10px|12px|10px|12px|true|true” layout=”classic” show_text=”off” btn_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” btn_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” custom_css_before=” content: %22SHARE THIS%22;|| font-size: 16px;|| font-weight: 700;|| line-height: 22px;|| letter-spacing: 0em;|| text-align: center;|| color: #ff5447;|| margin-bottom: 10px;|| display: inline-flex;|| position: absolute;|| margin-top: 10px;” border_width_top_main=”1px” border_color_top_main=”#e4e4e4″ border_radii_icon=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_before_last_edited=”off|desktop”][ba_social_share_child _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][ba_social_share_child network_type=”facebook” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][ba_social_share_child network_type=”linkedin” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][ba_social_share_child network_type=”email” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][\/ba_social_share][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shutting down your business over the holiday period? Check out our guide to discover what to do in the lead-up to the end-of-year shutdown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":298838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Tired of success? Sick to the back teeth with all talk of stability and strong cash flow? Dreading strong growth, healthy profits, and excellent brand recognition? Then listen up! It\u2019s time to run your business right into the dirt.<\/p> It\u2019s easy, let\u2019s get you started.<\/p> One of the best ways to ruin your business beyond repair is to ignore reporting. When you use business tools like accounting software to run reports on cash flow<\/a>, COGS<\/a>, budget forecasting<\/a> and accounts receivable<\/a>, you gain actionable insights through hard data.<\/p> Instead of steering your business on gut feel, running reports, and then taking the information onboard will help you make better business decisions. We can\u2019t have that.<\/p> Old websites are good websites. If you really want to curb your capacity for growth and profits, you should never update your website.<\/p> Ensure you have:<\/p> By keeping your website stuck firmly in the early 2000s you will make great progress in diminishing your business and becoming unappealing to customers.<\/p> Don\u2019t ever listen to your customers or request feedback. What would they know?<\/p> Understanding feedback leads to a deeper understanding of your client base and increases your capacity to make your customers happy<\/a>.<\/p> When you ask for feedback and then act on it to make changes to your business model, you may run the risk of making and retaining more customers and increasing your profits. Avoid at all costs, (as this will only make your business stronger and more resilient<\/a>.)<\/p> Nobody knows more than you, so never ask for advice or consult with a business advisor. Business advisors are adept professionals, skilled in analysing your data and making sage suggestions on how to improve many facets of your business.<\/p> Business advisors and accountants can help you:<\/p> Such professional advice and assistance will only lead to a healthier business geared toward growth.<\/p> If you\u2019d like to generate a tight ball of stress in your chest and make hasty decisions, you\u2019re best off leaving everything until the very last minute. Wait until the final chance to do your:<\/p> If you plan and work toward getting tasks done with a calm mind and a chance to do things consciously and correctly, you\u2019re only going to run a tighter ship.<\/p> Another surefire way to erode your business is to muddle up your personal and business finances<\/a>. By using business funds for personal purchases and paying for business expenses with personal accounts you\u2019ll generate a wild financial tangle.<\/p> This nest of interwoven finances will make it an absolute nightmare to tease out your real financial position and truly mess with your reporting and tax compliance. So, if you want to spend inordinate hours trying to separate your business finances<\/a> down the track, go right ahead and make it nice and messy.<\/p> If you want to run your ship into a reef, make sure you never adjust course.<\/p> There are a lot of successful business owners out there who keep a finger on the pulse, research the market, listen to feedback, and interpret data to adjust their offerings and business models.<\/p> These business owners tend to benefit from avoiding obsolescence and will make shifts to correspond to the changing tastes of their customers and prevailing market conditions.<\/p> If you want to see diminishing returns, however, don\u2019t be like them \u2013 just remain static.<\/p> Another fantastic way to damage your business is to take employees for granted. It\u2019s often said that a business is only as good as its employees<\/a>, so take advantage of that and neglect your staff. Nothing will demotivate an employee faster than neglect.<\/p> A few ways to do this include underpayments, never giving praise or encouragement, fostering a negative work culture<\/a>, never offering training or education<\/a>, deploying a harsh and unforgiving attitude, and having a general lack of respect. Your business will be suffering in no time!<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[343],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-298828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights"],"yoast_head":"\nEmployee Communication<\/h3>\n
\n
Finance Overview<\/h2>\n
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Prep for industry changes<\/h2>\n
Switch off for the holidays<\/h2>\n
Shutting down for the holidays<\/h2>\n
1) Ignore reporting<\/h2>
2) Neglect your website<\/h2>
3) Don\u2019t ask for customer feedback<\/h2>
4) Do it all yourself and never ask for advice<\/h2>
5) Leave everything until the last minute<\/h2>
6) Mix up your personal and business finances<\/h2>
7) Never adjust course<\/h2>
8) Create hostile relationships with your employees<\/h2>