What holidays should a small business close for in 2027?

There is no single right list. Most small businesses close for the big ones, such as New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas in the US, or Christmas and Boxing Day in the UK, and choose the rest based on when their customers actually book. Start from the official US federal holiday list or the GOV.UK bank holiday list and mark each day closed, short hours or open.

Do I have to give employees paid holidays in the US?

Not under federal law. The US Department of Labor says the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or holidays. These are matters of agreement between employer and employee. State or local rules and your own contracts can still apply, so check your state labor department.

How much paid holiday do UK staff get?

GOV.UK says almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, which is 28 days for someone who works a 5-day week. Bank holidays do not have to be given as paid leave on top, and an employer can include them in the 28 days.

How much notice should staff give for time off?

Set your own rule in the policy, for example 4 weeks for a week off. In the UK, if the contract says nothing, GOV.UK says the default notice is at least twice the length of the leave plus 1 day, so 3 days' notice for 1 day off. An employer refusing leave must give notice at least as long as the leave requested plus 1 day.

Can I stop staff taking time off in my busiest weeks?

Yes, as long as you set it out clearly and fairly. GOV.UK says employers can restrict when leave can be taken, for example at busy periods, and can tell staff to take leave on bank holidays or at Christmas. Put blackout weeks in the written policy and share it early so nobody books a trip first.

Can GBot block my calendar or message clients for me?

No. GBot does not connect to your booking system, calendar, payroll or Google Business Profile, and it does not send messages on its own. Mia can draft your time off policy, closure notice and client emails, and Nora can draft replies when a client asks about a closed day. You approve the text and post or send it yourself.

Small Business Holiday Schedule 2027: Closures and Time Off

The short answer: decide your 2027 closure days this month, write a one-page time off policy with a request deadline and a few blackout weeks, then block those days in your booking calendar before clients grab them. Finish by posting one closure notice everywhere customers look, and message anyone already booked on a day you will be shut.

This plan is for small teams that run on appointments or shifts: salons and barbers, pet groomers, cleaners and home services, trades, clinics, gyms and studios, shops, and agencies. It is about operations, not promotions. For sales dates and campaign ideas, use our 2027 small business marketing calendar instead.

Step 1: Pick your 2027 closure days

Start with the official list for where you operate, then mark each day Closed, Short hours or Open.

United States. These are the 2027 federal holidays from the OPM federal holidays page. Private businesses do not have to follow them, but customers, schools and banks often do.

Holiday	2027 date (as observed)
New Year's Day	Friday, January 1
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.	Monday, January 18
Washington's Birthday	Monday, February 15
Memorial Day	Monday, May 31
Juneteenth National Independence Day	Friday, June 18 (June 19 is a Saturday)
Independence Day	Monday, July 5 (July 4 is a Sunday)
Labor Day	Monday, September 6
Columbus Day	Monday, October 11
Veterans Day	Thursday, November 11
Thanksgiving Day	Thursday, November 25
Christmas Day	Friday, December 24 (December 25 is a Saturday)

The shifted days apply to federal employees. If you are open on Saturdays, decide whether you close on the actual holiday, the observed day or both, and say so in your notice.

United Kingdom. From GOV.UK bank holidays, England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027: Friday, January 1; Good Friday, March 26; Easter Monday, March 29; Monday, May 3; Monday, May 31; Monday, August 30; and, because Christmas falls on a weekend, Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28. Scotland adds Monday, January 4 and St Andrew's Day on Tuesday, November 30, has its summer bank holiday on Monday, August 2, and has no Easter Monday. Northern Ireland adds St Patrick's Day on Wednesday, March 17 and Monday, July 12.

Quick rule: if a day is quiet for you every year, close. If it is your busiest day (think salons before Christmas or cleaners before Thanksgiving), stay open and pay or rotate staff instead.

Step 2: Know the legal floor

US: the Department of Labor says the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or federal or other holidays. Paid time off is a matter of agreement. State and local rules can add to this, so check your state labor department, and remember any 2027 minimum wage increases when you budget holiday pay.
UK: GOV.UK holiday entitlement says almost all workers get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, 28 days for a 5-day week, and part-timers get it pro rata (for example 16.8 days for 3 days a week). Bank holidays do not have to be paid on top; you can count them inside the 28 days.
UK notice rules: if the contract is silent, GOV.UK booking time off says workers give notice of at least twice the leave plus 1 day, and employers can restrict leave at busy periods or tell staff to take leave, such as at Christmas.

Step 3: Write a one-page time off policy

Copy this, fill the brackets and give it to every team member.

[Business name] time off policy for 2027

Closure days. We close on [list dates]. These are [paid / unpaid / taken from your annual leave].

Allowance. Full-time staff get [number] days of paid time off a year. Part-time staff get the same in proportion to their hours.

How to ask. Send a request using the form below at least [4] weeks ahead for a week or more, and [7] days ahead for a single day.

Fair order. Requests are approved first come, first served. No more than [1] person in each role can be off at the same time.

Blackout weeks. We do not approve time off during [for example, December 13 to 24, and the two weeks before Easter], except in emergencies.

Answer time. We reply to every request within [3] working days. Approved time off goes straight into the staff calendar.

Swaps. You can swap a shift with a colleague if [manager name] agrees in writing.

Pick blackout weeks from your own booking history, not habit. A groomer's peak may be the week before Thanksgiving; a gym's may be early January.

Step 4: Use one time off request template

Time off request Name: [ ] Dates requested: [first day] to [last day] Total working days: [ ] Type: [paid time off / unpaid / swap] Cover arranged: [who, or "none"] Clients already booked in these dates: [yes / no] Submitted on: [date] Approved by: [ ] on [date]

The "clients already booked" line saves the most trouble. It tells you who needs moving before you say yes.

Step 5: Block the booking calendar early

Add every 2027 closure day to your booking system as closed, today, so no new bookings land on it.
Add approved staff time off the same day you approve it.
Check the weeks either side of each closure. Clients often try to book the day before, so open extra slots if you can.
Set your Google Business Profile special hours for each closure. Our guide to Google Business Profile holiday hours shows how.
Put the closure dates on your shop window, voicemail and email signature.

If you are still closing out this year, our small business year-end checklist covers the rest of your 2027 setup, from prices and policies to opening hours.

Step 6: Tell customers

Holiday closure notice (website, Google Business Profile post, booking page)

2027 holiday closures: [Business name] will be closed on [dates]. We reopen at [time] on [date]. Online booking stays open for other days, and messages sent while we are closed will be answered on [date]. Thank you, and happy holidays from the team.

Message to a client booked on a day you will close

Hi [Name], we will be closed on [date] for [holiday], and you are booked with [staff name] at [time]. Sorry for the change. We can move you to [option 1] or [option 2], or just reply with a time that suits you. [Name], [Business name]

Short reply when someone asks if you are open

Hi [Name], we are closed on [date] and back on [date] from [time]. You can book your next visit here: [booking link].

If clients rebook late or miss the new slot, a clear no-show policy helps.

Where GBot fits

GBot is an AI assistant for small businesses at $19.99/mo. Mia can draft your time off policy, request form, closure notice and the emails to clients booked on closed days, in your voice. Nora can draft replies when a client asks whether you are open. You approve everything first. GBot does not connect to your booking system, calendar, payroll or Google Business Profile, and it does not send messages on its own. You block the dates and post or send the text yourself.