Managing your business

To keep your business running, you may need a business plan to manage any changes. Talk to your health care team about what to expect from treatment so you can decide what you can handle.

These suggestions may help you combine work and treatment:

• Be realistic about how much work you can continue to do.
• Prioritise what aspects of working/owning your business are important to you and what you can let go or delegate.
• Decide what has to be done now and what can be left until later.
• Use your energy to do tasks you enjoy or that you must do yourself.
• Consider subcontracting, hiring temporary staff or asking friends in the same trade or profession to lend a hand.
• Ask for or accept any offers of help from family and friends.
• Consider working from home or changing your role.
• Let staff know what changes you make to keep the business running.
• If possible, aim to finish any high-priority or complicated work before you start treatment.
• Think about other ways to do your job. Could you travel less? Could you work from home more? Would it be practical to use technologies such as smartphones and video calls instead of in-person meetings? If you ship goods, could a fulfilment house handle this temporarily?
• Check any existing insurance policies for entitlements and let your insurance company know about changes to your work situation.
• Seek advice from any professional associations you belong to.
• Cancer Council may be able to help connect you to a legal or financial adviser. Call 13 11 20 to find out what services are available in your area and whether you are eligible for this assistance.
• Cancer Council may be able to refer you to a financial adviser or small business accountant for support. Contact 13 11 20 to find out what services are available in your state or territory.

Download our fact sheet on Insurance and cancer.

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