As the temperatures rise and people flock to the beach or their backyard pools, it’s not uncommon for service businesses to notice a dip in their sales. This phenomenon, commonly known as the summer slump, can be frustrating for business owners who rely on a steady stream of revenue to keep their doors open.

What Triggers a Summer Slump in Business?

What can cause a summer slump in service businesses?

1. Vacation season: During the summer, many people take advantage of their vacation time to travel and enjoy some time away from home. This can mean fewer people are around to use your services.
2. Seasonal businesses: If your business is seasonal, such as landscaping or pool maintenance, you may experience a decrease in demand during the summer months. This is because many people tend to their own lawns and pools during this time rather than hiring someone else to do it for them.
3. Back-to-school expenses: As the summer draws to a close, parents start preparing for the upcoming school year. This can mean they are less likely to spend money on optional services.
4. Outdoor activities: With longer days and warmer weather, people tend to spend more time outside enjoying leisure activities during the summer.
5. Economic factors: It’s essential to consider the overall state of the economy. If people feel uncertain about their financial situation, they may be less likely to spend money on non-essential services.

Strategies to Combat a Summer Slump

What can you do to combat the summer slump?

Offer Summer Promotions

Consider offering discounts or special promotions during the summer months to entice customers to use your services.

• Discounts for multiple-service packages
• Coupons for specific service or product discounts
• Early booking specials for the Fall or holiday season
• Out-of-School or Back-to-School promotions
• Social media engagement contests with prizes connected to your products or services

Expand Your Offerings

If your business is traditionally slow during the summer months, consider adding new popular services to better meet your client’s needs. What can you begin that adds value to your clients and meets a need they struggle with?

Focus on Customer Service

During slower months, focusing on providing exceptional customer service is essential to keep your existing customers returning. Excellent service is what brings clients back, even during slow months. This can also help to build loyalty and generate positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Streamline Cashflow with Factoring

Non-recourse factoring with JOBE Services, Inc. in Humble, Texas, keeps the cash flowing in your business even during slow summer months. Factoring allows you to get cash for outstanding invoices to meet payroll and expenses or even fund a summertime promotion.

Summer slumps are a common challenge faced by many service businesses. Take some steps to re-engage with existing clients while luring new clients, and use risk-free factoring to keep the cash flowing even in the slowest months. Call or message JOBE Services, Inc. today to learn more.