BeautyKiln gives general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making big decisions.

Taking Holiday and Time Off When Self-Employed

Nobody is going to tell you to take a break. Nobody is going to pay you while you're away. But if you don't take time off, you'll burn out. This guide covers how to plan it, fund it, and actually switch off.

You don't get paid holiday. If you don't work, you don't earn. Budget for time off the same way you budget for rent and products.

How Much to Save

Work out your average daily income. Multiply it by the number of days you want off. That's how much you need to save in advance.

Example: You earn £150 per day on average. You want 4 weeks off per year (20 working days). That's £3,000 you need to put aside across the year, which is £250 per month or roughly £58 per week.

Add your fixed costs that continue while you're away (rent, insurance, subscriptions). If your chair rent is £200 per week and you're off for 2 weeks, that's another £400 you need.

Telling Your Clients

Give at least 2-4 weeks' notice for any time off longer than a couple of days. Your regulars need time to book in before you go or plan around your absence.

How to communicate it:

• Put it on your booking system so no one can book those dates
• Post on your social media (but not too far in advance or they'll forget)
• Tell your regulars in person at their last appointment before you go
• Set up an automated away message on WhatsApp, Instagram and any booking platforms

Tip for new starters: When you tell clients you're taking a break, you don't need to explain or apologise. "I'm off from the 15th to the 29th. My books are open for when I'm back." That's enough.

Chair Rent During Holiday

If you rent a chair or booth, check your rental agreement. Most require you to pay full rent regardless of whether you're working. Some offer reduced rates during agreed holiday periods. A few allow unpaid breaks with notice.

Key questions to ask your salon owner before signing any rental agreement:

• Do I pay rent during holidays?
• How much notice do I need to give?
• Is there a maximum number of holiday weeks per year?
• Can someone else use my space while I'm away?

If your agreement says you pay full rent during holidays, factor that into your annual costs. It's not optional spending. It's a fixed overhead.

Insurance While You're Away

Most public liability and treatment risk policies remain active during short breaks. But check for:

• Inactivity clauses - some policies require you to be actively trading. A break of more than a few months might affect your cover.
• Equipment cover - if your tools are at the salon while you're away, are they covered for theft or damage?
• Notification requirements - some insurers want to know if you stop trading for more than 30 consecutive days.

A two-week holiday is fine. A three-month career break is a different conversation. Check with your insurer.

Planning Around Quiet Periods

Beauty has natural quiet periods. Use them.

Typically quieter months:

• January (everyone is skint after Christmas)
• August (school holidays, some clients away themselves)
• Early September (back-to-school chaos)

Typically busy periods:

• Late November and December (Christmas parties, events)
• April and May (weddings, proms, holidays)
• June and July (weddings, festivals, summer bookings)

Take your longer breaks during quiet months when you'd earn less anyway. Save your best weeks for peak season.

The Guilt Trap

Self-employment guilt is real. These are the thoughts:

• "I should be working."
• "What if I lose clients?"
• "I can't afford it."
• "Everyone else is working."

Here's the truth: employees get 28 days paid holiday per year as a legal minimum. You deserve time off too. You just have to fund it yourself.

Working every weekend, never switching off, checking DMs on the beach, doing "just one client" on your day off. All of that leads to the same place: burnout. And burnout doesn't give you two weeks' notice. It hits all at once.

Tip for new starters: Your first year, you might only manage a week off. That's fine. Build up. By year two or three, aim for 3-4 weeks. Your work will be better for it, and your clients will still be there when you get back.

What "Time Off" Actually Means

Time off means:

• Not checking DMs
• Not answering "quick questions" from clients
• Not doing one booking because they "really need you"
• Not posting work content on social media
• Not scrolling industry pages comparing yourself to others

Set your boundaries before you go and stick to them. Turn off notifications. Delete the app from your phone for a week if you need to. The world will not end.

Building Holiday Cost Into Your Pricing

Most people price based on 52 weeks of work. That's a mistake. You won't work 52 weeks.

A better calculation:

• 52 weeks in a year
• Minus 4 weeks holiday
• Minus 1 week illness (average)
• Minus 1 week for bank holidays you choose not to work
• = 46 working weeks

Your annual income target divided by 46 gives you a more realistic weekly target. This automatically funds your time off because you've priced for it.

Who to Contact

• NHBF (National Hair and Beauty Federation) - business advice for members: nhbf.co.uk (Paid, membership required)
• Mind - mental health support: 0300 123 3393 (Free)
• ACAS - employment and work rights: 0300 123 1100 (Free)

Sources

• NHBF guidance on managing a beauty business (nhbf.co.uk)
• Gov.uk holiday entitlement guidance for the employed (gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights) - for comparison context
• HMRC self-employment guidance (gov.uk/working-for-yourself)

Related Guides

• Cash Flow Management for Irregular Income
• Complete Pricing Guide
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Closing or Pausing Your Business
• Chair Rental Complete Guide
• Tax-Integrated Pricing

Didn't find what you were looking for?