👷 Builders are out on site all day, ☕ cafés are serving iced coffees on repeat, 🧘 mobile therapists are working festivals, and 🎪 outdoor events are creating new opportunities.
But here's the question: Is your bank balance feeling the benefit?

Because busyness doesn't always mean better profits. And sunshine doesn’t pay the tax bill.

Whether you're running a van, a venue or a virtual business — here are four habits that can help you take more money in the sunshine, not just more bookings.

1. Get Paid Faster (Even in a Field)

💳 Cashflow is king — but summer often creates chaos. You’re flat out, clients take longer to pay, and the paperwork piles up.

👉 Make it easy to get paid the moment a job is done.
Use tools like SumUp, Zettle or Square to take card payments on the go. No awkward invoice chasing. No missed sales.

If you’re a mobile caterer, a self-employed therapist, or a one-person trades team — this one habit can plug serious cash leaks.

“I lost count of how many people said, ‘Do you take card?’ last summer,” said Gary from 'Signs of the Times'.
“I do now.”

2. Scan It or Scrap It

📸 Summer is prime time for receipts going missing.
Quick stock and ice runs, fuel, subsistence, printing or stationery supplies and other ad-hoc expenses — if you’re not capturing them instantly, they vanish.

Our tip? Snap receipts on your phone the moment you get them.
Apps like Hubdoc (which connects to Xero), QuickBooks' own app, or others like Apron, Dext or Auto-Entry let you scan, store, and forward receipts automatically.

It’s one of the simplest habits to start — and future-you will thank you when tax time rolls around.

3. Maximise the Surge — Don’t Just Survive It

📈 Summer should be your high-water mark — but many businesses don’t take full advantage.

Ask yourself:

• Are your menus, quotes or packages priced for profit, or just covering costs?

• Are your summer offers pulling in the right kind of customer?

• Have you planned for August lulls, cancellations or rainy weekends?

If not — now’s the time. A small tweak to your pricing, systems or savings plan now could be the difference between a stress-free September and a tax panic later.

If you’d like a head start, check out our free guide with practical tips and real business examples from other UK-based trades and catering businesses who’ve made it work:

📘 Download the full eBook – Take More This Summer (coming soon)

Or if you prefer a quick skim, try the mini version here: 📄 Grab the short version – Busy, But Broke? (coming soon)

4. Talk to Someone Who Gets It

💬 You don’t have to figure this out alone. We’ve been on the frontline in trades, catering and service businesses for years — and we know the highs and lows of a busy season.

If you’re not sure where the money’s going, or just want to put better habits in place now…

📞 Book your free Financial Fitness Call
No pressure, no jargon — just a friendly chat about where you are, and what could help next.

⛱️ Before You Switch Off…

Summer is a gift — but don’t let it catch you off guard.

With a few small changes, you can turn sunshine into stronger systems, better income and a calmer mind.

Start with one change. We’ll help with the rest.

📘 Download your free copy of Busy, But Broke? (coming soon)
Or go deeper with the full toolkit and real business stories that show how others made it work.

🌞 Watch this space for more summer habits in our weekly posts — and a set of quick surveys we’re releasing soon to help you spot where the cracks are before they cost you.

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