How Do You Stop December Invoice Chaos? (2025/641)
December cash flow becomes problematic when clients shut down early, accounts teams disappear on holiday, and payments stall. Your expenses increase from holiday stock and staffing whilst income slows dramatically between mid-December and late January. Waiting until payment problems occur leaves you scrambling to chase invoices during the busiest time of year. Setting up automated reminders and recurring billing now prevents the cash flow crunch that catches many businesses off guard.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Using recurring invoices to ensure billing happens automatically📌 Setting up polite automated payment reminders before invoices become overdue🔗 Sending invoices earlier with extended payment terms during December✅ Configuring holiday-friendly wording in automated reminder templates📌 Checking CRM and accounting system connections before the rush🛡️ Scheduling thank-you messages that double as subtle payment nudgesMost payment delays during holiday periods are not intentional non-payment. Clients simply forget about invoices buried in overflowing inboxes during their busiest season. Automated reminders that go out the day before payment is due, then again seven days after, dramatically improve payment rates without requiring you to manually chase invoices. The key is setting these automations up now, before the chaos begins, and adjusting invoice timing to account for slower December processing. Sending invoices at the end of November with 14 or 21 day payment terms rather than waiting until mid-December with standard seven day terms gives clients time to process payments before their accounts teams leave. The episode covers practical strategies using tools like Xero, Zoho Books, and CRM systems to automate the entire invoice-to-payment cycle.LinksJoin the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons."Paradise Found"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/
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What Tech Checks Should You Complete Before The Holidays? (2025/640)
Heading into the holiday period without confirming your critical systems are working creates unnecessary risk. Discovering your website is down, your payment processor has stopped working, or your contact forms are routing to deleted email addresses whilst you are trying to enjoy time off forces stressful emergency responses. Running systematic tech checks now means you can actually take your break knowing your business systems will function reliably without constant monitoring.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Setting up website uptime monitoring and email delivery verification📌 Testing payment systems, contact forms, and automation workflows🔗 Creating proper backup systems with off-site storage before you leave✅ Checking SSL certificate expiration dates to prevent website errors📌 Ensuring team members have appropriate access to critical systems🛡️ Configuring auto-responders, email forwarding, and calendar blocksSmall oversights compound during holiday periods when response times are slower and technical support is limited. An automation that failed a month ago but went unnoticed suddenly matters when it was supposed to handle customer enquiries whilst you were away. An SSL certificate that expires on December 28th prevents your entire website from displaying. A backup system that stores files only on your hosting server becomes useless when that server experiences problems. These scenarios are preventable through systematic verification. The episode walks through practical checks for website stability, payment processing, email systems, backups, and team access to ensure nothing critical breaks whilst you are unavailable.LinksJoin the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons."Paradise Found"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/
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How Do You Automate Holiday Hours On Your Website? (2025/639)
Customers assume your website information is accurate. When your site displays standard operating hours during holiday closures or reduced schedules, you create frustration, damage trust, and risk negative reviews. People arrive at closed shopfronts, encounter unanswered phones, or receive no email responses because they relied on outdated website information. Automating your holiday hours across all touchpoints prevents these problems whilst saving you from last-minute scrambles.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Where to update holiday hours for maximum visibility and impact📌 Automating schedule changes on WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace sites🔗 Using Google Business Profile to update maps and search results automatically✅ Coordinating auto-responders, voicemail, and contact form messages📌 Scheduling announcement banners to display and remove automatically🛡️ Planning welcome-back messages now to save time when you returnThe consequences of incorrect business hours extend beyond inconvenience. Customers who encounter closed businesses after your website indicated you were open often leave negative reviews, contact competitors, or simply lose trust in your reliability. Meanwhile, you can automate most of these updates using built-in features in page builders like Elementor, Thrive, and Beaver Builder, or platform-specific tools in Shopify and Squarespace. For WordPress sites, scheduling plugins exist but should be used cautiously to avoid plugin bloat. The episode covers practical automation strategies alongside manual backup plans to ensure your hours stay accurate without requiring constant attention during your busiest period.LinksJoin the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons."Paradise Found"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/
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What Should Small Businesses Know About SAP, AI, and Cybersecurity in 2025? With Chris Carter (S2025,E32)
Overwhelmed by tech buzzwords like SAP, AI, or cloud computing? Chris Carter breaks it all down for small business owners in plain English — and even throws in a few jokes about alcohol, travel fails, and cybersecurity nightmares.📌 In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ What SAP actually is and why small businesses might need it✅ How using your own data (and not others’) improves AI performance✅ The real risks of AI-powered apps and why security should come first✅ Practical tips on passwords, data storage, and migrating systems🔗 Check out Chris Carter’s books on SAP, AI, and tech: https://askcharlyleetham.com/chriscarterbooksConnect with Chis:https://www.Approyo.comhttps://www.Mugatuai.comhttps://www.Christophermcarter.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-carter-885159/📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comFollow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic By:https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons."Paradise Found"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/0
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1:08:34
Is Your Website Ready For The Holiday Rush? (2025/638)
November is the perfect window to audit your website before the holiday chaos begins. Whilst things are still relatively calm, you have time to catch outdated information, test broken features, and ensure your site accurately reflects what your business offers right now rather than six months ago. Waiting until December means customers will encounter incorrect business hours, disconnected contact forms, or outdated service information during your busiest period.In this episode, Charly covers:✅ Essential website checks before the holiday rush begins📌 Updating business hours, contact details, and service information🔗 Testing contact forms, booking links, and embedded content✅ Reviewing team pages, legal information, and privacy policies📌 Checking for discontinued products and outdated social media icons🛡️ Testing your site as a first-time visitor to spot usability issuesSmall businesses often forget that their websites drift out of date. Staff members leave but contact forms still route to their old email addresses. Newsletter widgets point to abandoned email platforms. Business hours reflect pre-holiday schedules. Team photos show people who departed months ago. These problems compound during peak periods when new customers are actively researching your business. A quick site audit now prevents embarrassing discoveries when traffic spikes. This episode walks through the visible updates and invisible technical checks that ensure your website presents a current, professional image throughout the holiday season.LinksJoin the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com***Follow us:Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.comRumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleethamOdyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleethamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleethamTwitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgrInstagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leethamLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleethamLinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shineApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-managerMusic and Credits to:Paradise Found is covered under Creative Commons."Paradise Found"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/licenses/
About Rise and Shine: Your Daily Dose Of Business Tech Inspiration
Where small business tech meets plain English.
Charly Leetham brings decades of hands-on experience helping business owners harness technology - without drowning in jargon or wasting time on fluff. Whether you're a DIY'er trying to make sense of your website, emails, or software, or you just want to know if your IT team is talking sense, this podcast is for you. Each episode is packed with practical advice, real-world tips, and insights from the trenches.
If you've ever thought, "There’s gotta be a better way to do this tech stuff" - you’re right. Charly is here to show you how.
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