If you’re a business owner, the end-of-year (EOY) period can also bring struggles, with unpaid invoices and seasonal peaks wreaking havoc with cash flow.

However, the celebratory season also brings with it plenty of business opportunities. We explore some of those industry-specific prospects.

Prospa insights

We sat down with business owners just like you for a 30-minute, one-on-one interview. Here’s what we discovered:

• The reasons for starting a business are as unique as the people behind them: taking refuge from corporate life, hobbies that grow and an inheritance are some of the many reasons.
• After taking the leap into business, the sense of independence is the biggest payoff for many people.
• The biggest pain points for business owners are a lack of certainty, support or flexibility.
• EOY causes feelings of trepidation for most business owners.
• Invoice-based businesses can require cash flow funding during the December–January holiday period as they are often paid late.

The construction industry: Planning and purchasing

Businesses that operate within the construction industry often need to purchase materials upfront, ready for projects kicking off in January and February. Despite this cash flow hurdle, there are also opportunities at this time of year.

As people take off on holidays, the slowdown can be used to catch up on administrative tasks and create an inventory. Focus on streamlining and automating processes so you’ll benefit from your efforts throughout the year.

It’s also an ideal time to plan marketing efforts for the year ahead. If you do have sufficient funds, you can also think about investing in new equipment to help boost your business throughout the year ahead.

Retail: Peaks and taking stock

The opportunity for retailers to cash in on the Christmas rush continues throughout the last three months of the year, and then it’s the quiet time. After this opportunity for high-volume sales, the following downturn can also be turned into an opportunity.

Take stock and develop a plan for how you’ll handle the Christmas rush next year. What worked? What didn’t? What will you change? It’s also the perfect chance to get on top of rostering and administrative tasks.

Hospitality: Time to grow

Hospitality is one of the busiest sectors during the end-of-year period as groups of friends, colleagues and families get together and celebrate the season.

Of course, if you’re a café or restaurant in a holiday hot spot, it’s likely your down time may not start until late January or even February.

Getting a head start

Of course, the holiday period is also the perfect time to – you guessed it – take a holiday. Taking a break can make you better at your job, more engaged at work and better connected with your family.

Once you’re back at work and ready to get a head start on the new year, consider a cash flow loan if you need additional funds. You can use the funds for any business purpose, so perhaps it’s time to start thinking about the best way to invest in your business for a happy and prosperous new year.