Cash Flow At Christmas For Service Businesses

While our retail counterparts are generating up to 80% of their annual revenue over a few short months over the festive season, the service business sector can sometimes be left high and dry with B2B services in particular taking a cruisy (much-warranted) break, causing them to push back decisions, proposals and investing in your business.

That is, if you buy into that BS. Don’t worry, I did too once upon a time…

I used to tell my peers how Australian businesses often went to sleep for 2 months (Dec & Jan), given Christmas, New Year and School Holidays, there was much more going on in the homes that meant business was a second thought.

We’re not the only ones though, in the USA and UK, August is their Summer break and they can often feel similar feelings. But whether it’s at Christmas or any other seasonally quiet time, let me tell you how to navigate through when you’re anticipating that cash flow is going to be lean-er.

Watch this to hear my backstory in signing more clients at Christmas than any other time.

1. Throw the stereotypes out the window

One of my least favourite things in life is stereotyping and this happens a lot in business too. You’ll hear things like “no-one is buying” or “businesses don’t make decisions at Christmas-time” or “the whole industry is quiet, this is normal”. When you accept statements like that you’re being submissive to your results and limiting your potential.?

Ever heard the saying;? “zig when they zag”, if everyone in your industry is acting the same way and say in this case, you continue some strong marketing through November and December, the people who want to buy, will and they will buy from those who are visible (not those who have succumb to “norms”).

2. Get organised early

We still can’t ignore the elephant in the room and the fact that December is one of the most busy months and people do have their attention on Christmas plans and all the rest of it. So, the key to securing your cash flow so your business can ride through Dec & Jan with confidence and certainty is… you have to get organised early.

While there are an array of strategies that can help you including servicing retainer clients, client acquisition needs to be done sooner rather than later as more time to conduct your marketing will work in your favour.

3. Have an angle, urgency and reason people should buy now?

So you’re selling the same services that you sell year round, why should someone buy from you now? Just because you want to make sales is not a reason that’s going to fly with your clients.

Are your prices increasing in the new year? Do you have limited spaces? Is it in their best interest to act now rather than later? Getting ahead of the curb? Sorting out urgent problems sooner? Cost to business if they delay any further?

I find having a messaging angle should be based on genuine, non-marketing-fluff, that you can stand by authentically. Don’t just come up with a shot-gun-style reason someone should buy from you, what is actually in fact real and on-brand??

Generating clients for your business can happen at any time of the year, whether it’s Christmas Day or otherwise. The real intention here is, it can happen anytime you decide you want to boost your sales, followed by a strategy and some old-fashioned execution.

On November 20th at 1pm AEST, I’ll be sharing exactly how I signed my highest number of clients to date with a strategy that’s now proven to work time and time again.

If you can spare 45 minutes to learn this strategy which I will openly be sharing, it might just give you the greatest Christmas gift of all, stability for your service based business.?

→ Do yourself a favour and register here and yes, there will be a replay.

? I'm Shannon Stone, award-winning business & marketing consultant and I specialise in helping service based businesses strengthen their sales, enhance their team and better manage their business.

?? Connect with me on LinkedIn for more content to help you grow your service based business.