School holidays are fast approaching: a full six weeks in which parents are challenged to find ever more inventive ways to entertain the kids. Small business owners who are also parents often face the toughest challenge of all, as the concept of taking an extended vacation is something many simply cannot afford. So how can you juggle childcare without letting your business suffer?

We do not for a moment suggest that we have all the answers; After all, work-life balance is something every parent, whether employee or business owner, has struggled with for eternity. However, with the increasing advent of remote work and technological advances in cloud computing systems in areas such as online accounting software, it is now possible to work from home more efficiently than ever before.

Here are a few ways you can free up time this summer for childcare without losing focus on your business:

1. When you’re housebound, get your home office in order

There’s no doubt about it: come the school holidays, going to the office is going to be a headache, unless you have a really good childcare support network. Be smart and set up your home office ahead of time so you’re ready to go as soon as the holidays roll around. Find a quiet room (or a quiet corner, if you can’t spare an entire room) to set up your computer, bring essential files home, and make sure your office staff knows how to forward calls to your mobile or landline . Make sure the whole family knows this is a work area, so your paperwork isn’t covered in well-intentioned crayon art or gooey jam sandwiches! Finally, make sure your essential business software is accessible from home. The easiest way to do this is to make better use of cloud computing solutions, which store your software remotely rather than on your computer, such as online accounting software and remote file storage. Take full advantage of this innovation and you will be able to work as efficiently from home as from the office!

2. Hanging out with the kids? Make the most of mobility

We know that during the school holidays, parents are called more than ever to transport their children to events, parties and field trips. While many of these are family occasions, parents often spend a lot of time sitting around, either waiting for events to end or simply keeping an eye on proceedings. Why not bring your laptop and wi-fi dongle and use the time to answer emails and keep tabs on your finances, which you can do with online accounting software?

3. Find the time to make your workday more flexible

As hyperactive as children can be during the holidays, at some point they have to sleep. That’s the perfect time to catch up on the day’s work, and if you use the right software, you can do it at home. Online accounting software is designed for quick login and instant access to all your financial information, so even if it only takes a few minutes of your precious time before the little ones wake up again, you’ll be able to make the most of it. that time. you have, like accessing up-to-date debtor information and sending follow-up emails, to keep your bank balance in good standing.

We know that running a business is often a 24/7 job, so adding bored kids into the mix will be even more of a challenge. However, with the right advice, online software solutions, and a little planning, it is possible to keep your family happy and your business prosperous during the holidays. Happy Holidays!

Accounting software from online accounting provider Fusion Accounts