A new survey of small business owners has found that the average owner takes an average of just 15 full days off a year – well short of the 28-day statutory minimum, while 17% founders say that they actually don’t manage to take any full days off during an entire year.
Company registration provider Tide surveyed 500 UK small business owners on how many days they take off, where they are fully on holiday defined as no calls, no emails and no business admin). The breakdown reveals a clear split between a minority who successfully manage to protect their rest and a majority who do not.
|
Average number of days off taken per year |
% of business owners* |
|
0 days |
17% |
|
1-5 days |
23% |
|
6-10 days |
17% |
|
11-20 days |
15% |
|
21-30 days |
10% |
|
31-34 days |
4% |
|
35+ days |
9% |
*5% of owners answered ‘I’m not sure’
The number of business owners taking no full days off in a year increases to 21% for sole traders, with 1 in 5 feeling unable to fully switch off without a team to hand anything over to. This number decreases to 7% of owners with 50-99 employees, while the research reveals that owners aged between 25-34-years-old take the lowest amount of annual leave, taking an average of just 12 days off each year.
For many founders, the holiday gap is often a reflection of genuine dedication and passion for something they’ve built from scratch. Running a business is personal in a way that employment rarely is, and stepping away, even briefly, can feel like a risk not worth taking.
This is echoed in the start and finish times of many founders, too, with the data also showing that the average UK business owner starts their working day at 7:52 am and finishes at 6:04 pm, a 10+ hour day. Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) work more than 48 hours per week, the legal maximum for employees under UK Working Time Regulations.
George Schmidt, CEO UK/Europe at Tide, comments: “Many founders start a business to create more freedom and flexibility, yet the reality is that too many end up feeling unable to properly switch off. Nobody should feel they have to choose between their business and their wellbeing. Tide exists to make running a business simpler, helping owners cut down on admin and reclaim valuable time.”
Tide’s top tips for closing the holiday gap:
- Automate your admin: tools that handle invoicing, expenses and financial reporting, like Tide’s accounting software, free up hours every week that you shouldn’t be spending manually.
- Create clear boundaries: with 29% of business owners working 48 hours or more each week, it’s important to set working hours and stick to them. Try to uphold boundaries of not replying to requests late at night or over the weekend. If you can, have a separate work phone or email that you can switch off.
- Build in recovery time before you need it: 1 in 6 (17%) aren’t taking a single full day off each year – a serious burnout concern. Avoid waiting until you’re on the verge of burnout to take a break. Even a long weekend every few months makes a difference; block it in the diary as a non-negotiable.
- Account for time off in your financial planning: a common barrier for sole traders is that time off means lost income. Factor a holiday budget into your annual forecast so stepping away doesn’t feel financially reckless.
- Build a business that doesn’t need you for every decision: document your key processes, put trusted people in place, and give them the autonomy to act without you. Start small, even a few hours of genuine time off is progress.
To find out more about tools that can help to cut down on time and needless admin, visit: https://www.tide.co/features/accounting-software/
