Key holiday planning tips for small business owners

For many small business owners, the holiday season is the busiest and most stressful time of year. The stretch from Black Friday through New Year's Day is an important time for small businesses to take advantage of consumer spending, and to close out the year on a strong note. But the increased demands on inventory, staffing and security creates additional headaches and logistics. Managing the seasonal cash drain can be challenging especially if you haven't planned ahead of time. Between inventory, marketing, holiday bonuses and client gifts, expenses run high and bank accounts dip. These tips will help you minimize the impact even with the holiday season in full swing.