How to take maternity leave from your business

When you are running your own business, taking Maternity Leave may seem like a sure fire way to loose clients and ruin your business. With some planning, this does not have to be the case. Different points will apply to different aspects of your business.

1. When you announce your pregnancy to your friends, announce it to your clients too. Tell them when you are due and assure them that, for the time being, it is "business as usual" and that you will have plans in place to continue their service while on Maternity Leave.
2. Work out how long you want to take off. Do you just want to take the first week, or a month or 2 months? Will you just ease yourself back in to work after the first six weeks? Decide what you want to do and let your clients know if the business will be closed, and how long for.
3. Decide how much you want to do right after your baby is born. Will you still be checking your e-mails or posting on your message boards? Will be taking time off completely and just spending time with your new baby?
4. Keep your clients fully informed as to how their work is progressing. If things have been held up due to morning sickness, for example, let them know.
5. Leave yourself plenty of time to complete projects before your baby is due.
6. Find a suitable replacement. This does not mean someone who can simply take over, this would be someone you can refer your clients to if they have tasks that cannot wait, whom you trust to complete tasks to your standard. This can either be someone you hire, if you can afford it, or another business similar to yours.
7. When your baby is born, announce its arrival to your clients. Send them an e-mail or birth announcement, accompanied with the information about your maternity leave. This can be set up well before your baby arrives.
8. When you are getting back in to work, send your clients an e-mail or a letter telling them you are back. This not only tells your clients you are back, it reminds them you are around. You could accompany this with a voucher or special offer to encourage them to come back to you.
9. Lastly, enjoy your new baby and make the most of your maternity leave.

With a bit of planning, you can take maternity leave and relax knowing your clients are being looked after and that you will soon be looking after them again.

Article Source: http://www.therepozitory.com.au

Melissa Khalinsky is a work at home mother of 2 boys. She runs Business Mums Network, a support and information network for parents.

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