We know, we know, with all the demands of a new or growing business and your being responsible for most of the production and sales, the last thing you say you can afford is time for a vacation. Be honest with yourself, though, because you may need to take time off to boost your creativity, help relieve stress, get more training or spend some quality time with friends or family you feel you have neglected at times.

You probably also believe that your business cannot survive if you are not involved in its operations daily because you are the business. However, with some careful planning and mobile technology, you can take a vacation (or any other leave of absence for personal matters) and still keep your business running.

How to Prepare for a Vacation

Though you may work more hours than you did when you were employed at a "regular" job, having your own business does give you the flexibility to arrange your days off when you want. Some home-business owners take minivacations several times a year and then longer vacations at other times; others combine business travel and vacation activities. Still others take advantage of periodic business lulls for their time away. One owner of a successful home bookkeeping business takes a week off with her family after every April 15. She says she needs the break after a hectic tax season and enjoys connecting with her family again.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for some time off:

• Put aside a little money for vacation days on a regular basis so it will not be a severe drain on your finances.
• Project how much time you will need for your vacation or leave of absence, and then figure out how much work you will want to do -- if any -- while you are away.
• Tell all your business contacts (by email, phone, or letter) that you will be away and ask them whether anything vital needs your attention before you go. This is also the time to let your clients know if you have an emergency number where you can be reached, or the names of other business owners that can help them in your absence.
• For new clients who may call you, script your voice mail to let them know you will be temporarily out of your office but will get in touch with them upon your return (be cautious, though, about saying the specific dates to avoid a possible burglary). If you have a Website, don't forget to let them know the URL so they can get more information about your business.
• To keep up your cash flow, send out any invoices before you leave.
• Give yourself a day or two off before and immediately after your trips to be able to handle last-minute preparations and to give you a chance to regroup when you return.

How to Stay Linked to the Home Office

Depending on how much in demand your business is or how much in touch you want to be, take advantage of these technologies:

• Telephone: Use cellular phones or features offered by some carriers such as call forwarding or remote message management. Update your voice mail periodically when you pick up messages so customers will know you are getting their messages.

• Computers and software: Laptop and notebook computers with software utilities such as LapLink Professional by Traveling Software and pcAnywhere32 by Symantec Corp. and others allow you to access your PC from anywhere. Always take extra batteries and an AC adapter.

** Note: If you use your hotel's digital phone lines, protect your notebook's modem by using surge protectors, and make sure you also have virus-protection software installed.

• Email: You can use free email for your business' emails and access them wherever you can connect to the Internet. If you subscribe to a national Internet service provider, you can bring a list of local dialup numbers to get your email. You can also have email converted and forwarded to your pager, as with AirNote's wireless email service.

• Fax: With software such as Symantec's WinFax Pro loaded on your system, you can have faxes stored and passed along to you wherever you are.

• Pagers: Give your pager number on your voice mail or use Zeus Phonestuff's Always in Touch, which lets you know of any incoming calls and whether any messages were left.

• PDAs (personal digital assistants): Personal organizers can store telephone numbers of clients and associates you may need to reach while away.

• Combination: Telephony software such as Ring ZeroSystem's RingCentral can screen calls, let clients access or send files, convert email into voice messages and create customized phone messages.

A little time spent in preparing and learning what technology is best suited to your business can allow you to go most anywhere for a vacation while keeping in touch with your customers as much (or as little!) as you want. The most important part of taking time off from your enterprise is to do it in a way that best fits your business and lifestyle schedules and for you to create a strategy to make it happen.