5 Tech Tasks to Do Before You Go on Holiday
The school holidays are here, and whether you're heading abroad, enjoying a staycation, or simply taking a few days away from work, every small business owner deserves a proper break.
But switching off is much easier when you know your business is ticking along nicely in the background.
Before you set your out of office and pack your suitcase, spend just 15 minutes running through these five simple tech checks. They could save you from coming home to missed enquiries, frustrated customers, or unnecessary stress.
1. Test Your Contact Form
This is always my first recommendation.
It's surprising how often website contact forms stop working without anyone noticing. A software update, email issue or small setting change can prevent enquiries from reaching your inbox.
Before you leave:
Submit a test enquiry through your website.
Check that it arrives in your inbox.
Make sure any confirmation message or auto-response is working correctly.
If your contact form isn't working, potential customers have no way of getting in touch—and you probably won't know until someone tells you.
2. Set Your Out of Office
An out of office message isn't just polite, it helps manage expectations.
Let people know:
when you'll be back
whether you'll be checking emails
when they can expect a reply
who to contact if it's urgent (if applicable)
You don't need to apologise for taking a break. Everyone deserves time away from work, and most people are happy to wait when they know what to expect.
3. Make Sure Everything Is Backed Up
If you're using cloud storage such as Google Drive or OneDrive, you're already in a good position. But it's worth taking a minute to make sure everything has synced properly before you leave.
Double-check that:
recent documents have uploaded
invoices are saved
client files are safely backed up
any important photos or graphics aren't sitting only on your laptop
It's a quick job that gives you one less thing to worry about.
4. Give Your Website a Quick Health Check
Spend five minutes clicking around your website as though you're a visitor.
Check that:
your homepage loads correctly
all buttons and links work
your contact page is working
booking links still open
everything looks good on your phone
If you spot a problem now, it's much easier to fix than when you're sitting by the pool trying to troubleshoot on your mobile!
5. Secure Your Accounts
Unfortunately, cyber criminals don't take holidays.
Before you go, spend a couple of minutes checking your online security.
I recommend:
enabling two-factor authentication where possible
updating any weak or reused passwords
making sure your recovery email addresses are current
logging out of shared or public devices
These small steps can make a big difference in protecting your business while you're away.
Enjoy Your Break
Running a business can make it difficult to switch off completely, but taking a little time to prepare before you leave means you can relax knowing everything is in order.
So set that out of office, close the laptop, and enjoy your holiday.
If you'd like an extra pair of eyes on your website before you head away, a website audit can highlight any issues before they become bigger problems, giving you even more peace of mind while you're taking a well-earned break.
