As a business owner it’s easy to feel like your work is never done – because no matter how much you do, there is always more that could theoretically be done. Many business owners we’ve spoken with also feel that they have a responsibility to be available to their team and that if they step away they are putting an undue burden on their team. So, we wanted to hear from a broad range of business owners on whether they take vacations and we’ve shared some of their responses below.

Jeremy Carr

Yes, I do take vacations — and I consider them an essential part of being a sustainable and effective business owner. Time away allows me to reset, avoid burnout, gain perspective, and return with renewed clarity and creativity. The truth is, if your business can’t function without you for a few days, it’s not just exhausting — it’s risky. Read more>>

Faith Morris

Yes, I absolutely take vacations, and I take vacations on purpose because if your business cannot survive a few days without you, it’s not a sustainable business. I talk to founders all the time who feel like they can’t step away because it feels impossible. Their business will burn down, and because their entire business is running and reliable on them, and that’s exactly why they burn out, right? Personally, how I have created making this possible for me is I plan a vacation before I need it. I plan a vacation, and when I come back from that vacation, I have another one already planned. My clients know what to expect when I am on vacation. I have very clear boundaries. I have very proactive communication. Read more>>

Ruby Sandoval

Yes, I absolutely take vacations and I protect that time like gold. I block off travel dates with my family and rarely work weekends. It’s a non-negotiable for me. Read more>>

Traci Edwards

During our first three years building our business, we did not take any vacations. Our first vacation was actually our own 6-day backpacking elopement. We got ahead of our work schedule, emailed all of our couples to let them know ahead of time that we would not be reachable. On our thank you page, after a couple of inquiries, we also put a note about being out of the office and why. Then we set up an auto reply on our email to let people know when they could expect to hear back from us.  Read more>>

Anastasia Filip

This is such a great question — and honestly, one that hits close to home. I know so many entrepreneurs and freelancers who struggle with this, and I’m absolutely no exception. I mean, let’s be real — most of us left our 9-to-5 jobs to escape the office grind, only to end up working 24/7 instead! Read more>>

Ashley Thornton

As a small business owner, it often feels like we’re on-call 24/7—constantly responding to emails, always being the face of our companies. There’s an unspoken expectation that we should be working nonstop, present at every moment. When I first started, especially during the pandemic, it seemed almost normal to be perpetually available. I worked tirelessly, and while the business thrived, I missed my friends. But even though the shop was doing well, my heart felt empty. Read more>>

Mary Kate Platts

Being diagnosed with EDS in my 30s pushed me to reevaluate my relationship with work, vacations and rest.

My body has taught me that if you don’t take breaks, your health will eventually force you to.

I spent much of my youth pushing myself to ignore the importance of true rest. And I don’t mean the kind of rest where you lay there feeling guilty about all the things you should be doing – I mean the kind of rest that resets your mind and your body (as much as possible). Read more>>

Jacqui Schlosser

I think we need to first define if we are running a small or micro business. In either case, you should be able to have a team that can keep the business going if you need to step away for a week or two. That said, it is much easier to have that team in place if you are running a small business (defined as less than 500 employees). If you are a solo-entrepreneur or micro business owner, an assistant may or may not be in the picture. And in that case, essentially, if you are not the one working, than you are not making any money. The assistant can help with correspondence and keeping the customers happy while you are gone, but very rarely will it be the case that income is coming in while the owner is on vacation. Read more>>