The simple answer to whether Saturdays are considered business days depends on the industry in question. Many business operations follow the traditional format of Monday to Friday (excluding weekends and public holidays which are typically Mondays) but how does this work for companies and organisations in different sectors?
In this article, Real Business evaluates business day conventions, including the pros and cons of counting Saturday amongst your working days, and how it changes the business landscape.
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Benefits Of Using Saturday As A Business Day
The benefits of using Saturday as a normal business day are numerous.
- Wider Demographic – Saturday is a day that many people are typically not working, meaning businesses have access to a wide group of potential customers. Standard business hours of 9-5 throughout a typical work week is, by definition, when most people are at work and children are at school.
- Versatility – Using Saturday as a business day means you can take advantage of opportunities your competitors may not be able to.
- Avoid Bottlenecks – Sometimes, having Saturday among your business days means you can meet demand and avoid bottlenecks and delays. This can be particularly important for industries such as healthcare, where lack of access can cause real problems in society.
- Extended Profit – Adding Saturday to your business days takes total working days up to six, means six profitable days rather than five.
- Extra delivery day – Some businesses and delivery companies work Saturdays and Sundays; these organisations run a seven-day-a-week business model – think Amazon – so all days are working days, essential for their next day delivery services.
What Is The Standard Working Week?
Standard business days are generally considered to be Monday to Friday, so that’s five business days and two rest days. Normal business hours are 9-5, however many businesses vary this.
During the Covid pandemic in 2020 with the requirement to quarantine, home and hybrid working increased. Consequently, standard business days and hours shifted. Nowadays, organisations opt for flexibility, operating at times previously considered restricted, potentially a smaller number of days with longer hours, or retaining the five-day model but with an earlier finish time on Friday afternoon. However, Saturday is still not considered a business day for traditional sectors such as the financial markets and banking institutions.
Are Business Days Different To Calendar Days?
If you’re told something will be done in so many working days or business days, then this typically means Monday to Friday. Ten working days is actually two weeks in calendar days. This is how many businesses are managing expectations particularly with back office roles, even if their sales teams are working on Saturdays and Sundays.
Which Businesses Operate On A Saturday?
Two main types of businesses benefit the most from making Saturday a working day.
- High-Demand Businesses – Businesses that have high demand, such as supermarkets, typically see the most footfall on Saturdays.
- Hospitality – Businesses that are customer-facing such as restaurants, tourist attractions, and beauty salons typically open on a Saturday to take advantage of the fact that most people still work Monday to Friday. The majority of people are free from work and school commitments at the weekend.
What Are Normal Business Hours?
Working hours, and hours of operation vary depending on the industry and how they maximise profitability and functionality. While some business days are still strictly 9-5pm, many industries now operate a different model.
Retail Stores & Shopping Centres
Retail stores and shopping centres tend to follow business as usual on Saturdays and offer reduced hours on Sunday in line with the Sunday trading laws. Many shopping locations tend to open earlier than 9 am, sometimes as early as 6 am. These times are to catch people who require goods before or on the way to work.
Supermarkets
Supermarkets are typically open between 7 am to 10 pm throughout the week, including Saturdays and for a reduced period during public holidays and on Sundays. In densely populated areas, some supermarkets may stay open 24/7, or as long as possible during weekends and public holidays.
Banks
Banks operate mostly on a traditional business day format, though many have allowed for a reduced timetable on Saturdays, typically 9 am – 1 pm. ATMs and other machines have helped offset the lack of flexibility: a move to a cashless society has reduced foot traffic in high street banks even more. Many people use online banking on their devices to make bank transfers and to purchase goods and services. This is a 24/7 facility that doesn’t require actual attendance in a local branch of set opening hours.
Restaurants & Hospitality
Saturday and Sundays are business days for many in these industries, with most restaurants typically closed the following Monday and sometimes the following Tuesday as well. There is always a driver for people to eat out at the weekend so it’s unusual to find a food or hospitality outlet closed on a Saturday.
Should Saturday Be A Business Day?
When evaluating how to calculate business days, consider the following:
- Customer Demand – Is there a demand on Saturday for goods and services from your customers?
- Resource availability – Do you have available staff who are comfortable working on Saturdays?
- Profitability – Calculate your operational costs which include possibly paying staff a higher rate against potential income and overall productivity.
- Work/Life balance – Consider staff wellbeing by increasing work patterns. Are your staff happy working Saturdays?
- Industry Standard – How much competition do you have on a Saturday?
Much depends on the type of goods and services you offer. For example, high-demand products like groceries or services like petrol stations which customers expect to have access to all the time, would see a negative impact on their business by not opening on a Saturday like their competitors. Also, understanding how long the average business day is (typically eight hours) is crucial for managing time and setting deadlines effectively.
Continually monitoring performance indicators, will provide insights into your business that can be used to understand customer needs and plan business strategy, maximising opportunities and mitigating any negative impacts.
Case Studies: Industries Embracing Saturday Trading
The standard business week is evolving due to changes in customer habits and lifestyle patterns. The 21st-century is all about 24/7 living, fuelled by the digital revolution.
- Healthcare Clinics – Healthcare clinics have fully embraced opening on a Saturday to provide more flexibility for patients, maximising healthcare outcomes for the population. It also means people can avoid taking time off work to attend appointments. A study named “Do medical outpatients want ‘out of hours’ clinics?” found that 62.5% preferred clinics with out-of-hours or weekend availability. Out-of-regular-hours services are provided by private healthcare providers and the NHS who are trying to reduce waiting lists.
- Fitness Centres – Fitness centres and gyms have begun to change the working patterns of their PTs and other staff, including later opening times and Saturday and Sunday opening hours. The IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report of 2020 found that there was an increase of 25% in attendance for fitness centres that offered extended hours to cater to this demographic of gym-goers.
- Mobile Pet Groomers – Mobile pet groomers found that weekends are extremely popular due to the change in service availability, no longer needing to coordinate grooming around normal working hours. Saturdays are the most popular day by far for this service, a study from Global Market Insights (2022) found, and it is the largest contributor to the compounded annual growth rate of 8%.
Saturday As A Business Day – Predictions
Saturday, extended work hours, shifting opening times and new, flexible ways of working, such as remote working, have dramatically altered business forecasts, making future prediction hard. However, commerce experts, such as McKinsey and Company have some useful information for business owners:
- Increased Consumer Demands – Consumer demand for weekend services has skyrocketed, with the popularity of Saturday expected to rise by 20% over the next five years thanks to the growing gig economy and flexible work schedules.
- Retail and E-commerce – Saturday is expected to become a critical day for online shopping due to increased weekend promotions and online consumer activity, with an 18% increase in weekly sales already up to 2025.
- Service Industries – Healthcare industries and fitness centres have found that customers prefer booking their appointments on a Saturday, leading many to already make the shift.
- Financial and Professional Services – This industry is experiencing an increasing demand for Saturday services as business days. Saturday transactions even online accounted for around 10-15% of weekly financial activity according to a 2023 PwC report.
- Workforce Changes – As Saturday becomes normalised and standardised as a business day, it’s more common to find employees who choose to give up their Saturday for an alternative weekday off. This allows workers to access opportunities usually unavailable to them throughout the working week.
- Sunday Restriction Lift – There are currently restrictions for Sunday work to enforce religious observance, rest and social welfare, and sometimes simply cultural norms. However, as flexibility continues to develop, this is expected to change.
Conclusion
Saturday has become an extremely important trading day for business profitability and is likely to remain so because of the flexibility it offers consumers. Ultimately, the decision to open a business on Saturday pivots on customer demand, the potential increase in revenue, and associated operating costs. This differs from one business to another.
FAQ: Best Way To Check Business Opening Hours
Today, most businesses have websites and social media accounts – such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram – where they post up-to-date information about the business including details on opening hours for Monday through Friday, and weekends and holidays. These can be checked from any smartphone, tablet or laptop and is probably the most convenient way to find this information, and usually the most accurate. Last minute or unexpected closures are also often posted on social media.
During holiday periods like Easter, Christmas and on public holidays, it’s always best to ring and check as operating hours can differ and not every business updates their online presence.
