As small business owners, we often find ourselves juggling multiple roles—CEO, marketing manager, customer service rep, and everything in between. It’s easy to fall into the trap of working long hours just to keep up. But what if there was a way to work smarter, not harder? What if you could enjoy a better work-life balance, set healthy boundaries, and still see your business thrive?

Enter the concept of the 4-day workweek. While it’s not yet a widespread standard in the US, many businesses around the world have started experimenting with this new approach, and some are finding it to be a game-changer. In this post, we’ll explore whether the 4-day workweek could be a good fit for your small business—and how you can make it work with the help of the right tools and strategies.

What Is the 4-Day Workweek?

Simply put, a 4-day workweek means reducing the standard 5-day workweek to just 4 days, while keeping the same pay. While it may seem counterintuitive, the data backs up the benefits of offering employees flexibility to achieve a better work-life balance without cutting down on their income.

Several countries and companies have already implemented this system, and early results are promising. In fact, a study by 4 Day Week Global found that businesses that switched to a 4-day workweek reported increased productivity, better employee well-being, and a reduction in burnout. Businesses that participated in a 6-month trial saw a 35% increase in revenue on average, along with lower turnover and happier staff.

But could this work for small businesses in Memphis and the Midsouth? Let’s dive into some pros and cons of a 4-day workweek and how it could impact your small business.

The Case for a 4-Day Workweek

1. Work-Life Balance: The Key to Long-Term Success

Work-life balance is something many entrepreneurs struggle with, especially in the early stages of running a business. Many small business owners work nights and weekends just to keep up with their workload. In fact, a survey by the Small Business Administration (SBA) revealed that More than 80% of small business owners work weekends, with many putting in over 50 hours a week. This constant grind can lead to burnout, fatigue, and poor decision-making, all of which can harm your business in the long run.

A 4-day workweek offers a solution by giving employees (and business owners) more time to recharge and spend quality time with family, friends, or pursue personal interests. By shifting to a shorter workweek, you can encourage a healthier work-life balance. When you allow yourself the time to recharge, you’ll return to work with renewed energy, better ideas, and improved focus.

2. Delegation and Time Management: Focusing on What Matters

Effective time management and delegation are essential for running a successful business. The reality is that you can’t do it all—no matter how hard you try. A 4-day workweek may force you to look at your current workload and identify tasks that can be delegated or automated.

By partnering with a local marketing team like The Profit Link, you can offload critical tasks such as digital marketing, social media management, and customer engagement, allowing you to focus on the strategic growth of your business. This kind of delegation can help you make the most of your four workdays by freeing up time and ensuring that marketing efforts are managed by experts.

3. Increased Productivity and Employee Satisfaction

One of the biggest fears business owners have when considering a 4-day workweek is the impact on productivity. However, the evidence suggests that employees often become more productive when given the opportunity to work less. A study conducted by Microsoft Japan found that employees who worked a 4-day workweek were 40% more productive than those working the traditional 5-day schedule.

Employees who are given the time to rest are less likely to experience burnout and more likely to be engaged when they return to work. And happy, engaged employees tend to perform better, which ultimately benefits your business. 

The Challenges of a 4-Day Workweek for Small Businesses

While the 4-day workweek has many potential benefits, it’s important to consider the challenges that could arise when implementing this model in your business. Here are some of the main hurdles you might face:

1. Managing Customer Expectations

As a small business, one of the most significant concerns with transitioning to a 4-day workweek is the potential impact on customer service. After all, your customers may not care whether it’s a 4-day or 5-day workweek—they just want their questions answered and their needs met.

However, this challenge can be addressed with the right systems in place. One solution is to implement smart AI automation tools that handle routine tasks like customer inquiries, social media scheduling, and email marketing. With non-generative AI automation, you can set up automated email campaigns, chatbot responses, and social media posts, ensuring that your customers receive timely responses even on your off days.

Additionally, working with a local marketing team like The Profit Link can help maintain a consistent online presence and keep things running smoothly during your time off. Our team can manage your social media accounts, create engaging content, and ensure your digital marketing strategy is on track, even when you’re away from the office. 

2. Team Coordination and Scheduling

Another challenge with the 4-day workweek is ensuring that your team members are on the same page and can still meet deadlines. This is especially true if your team is small, and you’re all handling multiple tasks. To make a 4-day workweek work, you’ll need to be strategic about scheduling and planning.

Clear communication is key. You’ll need to set realistic expectations for project timelines and deliverables. It may also be worth considering staggered schedules, where some team members work on different days of the week, ensuring that your business is always covered.

Tools like project management software, collaboration platforms, and AI-driven scheduling tools can help streamline this process, ensuring that everyone is aligned and that no tasks fall through the cracks.

3. Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations

A successful 4-day workweek depends on setting clear boundaries. This means creating systems that help you manage expectations with both employees and customers. Be upfront with your clients about your working hours and set boundaries for when you are and aren’t available.

A key part of this is being intentional about your time management. Use tools like scheduling apps and project management software to plan your week in advance, prioritize important tasks, and ensure that everything gets done within your shortened workweek.

4. It’s Hard to Let Go

Delegating tasks is a powerful way to make a 4-day workweek feasible. As a business owner, your time is best spent on high-level decisions and growth strategies, not on handling every small marketing detail. It can be hard to cede control of something you built from nothing with blood, sweat, and tears, but by outsourcing tasks like social media management, digital marketing, and content creation to experts like The Profit Link, you can focus on what matters most—growing your business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

5. There’s So Many Metrics to Track

Once you implement the 4-day workweek, it’s important to track your results and be open to adjustments. Are your employees staying productive? Are your customers still getting the service they need? Is your business thriving despite the shorter workweek?

It’s crucial to monitor these factors regularly and make adjustments as needed. A 4-day workweek may take some time to perfect, but with the right strategies and support, it’s entirely possible to make it work for your small business.

The Profit Link: Helping You Build a Smarter Business

At The Profit Link, we help small businesses across Memphis and the Midsouth navigate big questions like whether a 4-day workweek is a good fit for your business. Here’s how we support small businesses to implement smarter strategies:

1. Automated Digital Marketing: We build and manage automated marketing funnels, from email newsletters to retargeting ads, that keep leads engaged and drive results around the clock.

2. Social Media, Simplified: We use automation tools (and a dash of Memphis creativity) to plan, schedule, and analyze posts across platforms so your message stays clear and compelling—even when you’re off.

3. Strategic Delegation: Let us handle the time-consuming tasks like content creation and digital marketing, so you can focus on what truly matters—running your business.

4. AI Tools That Work for You: Our human-first AI solutions integrate with your workflow to eliminate busywork while preserving your voice and authenticity.

Ready to Reclaim Your Time?

A 4-day workweek could be the change you need to improve your work-life balance, reduce stress, and make your business more efficient. But it’s not something you should do alone. If you’re considering making the shift, The Profit Link is here to help you navigate this transition. From automating your marketing to delegating tasks, we provide the tools and expertise to ensure your business thrives, even with a shortened week.