For many small businesses, the first instinct when it comes to tracking staff holidays is to open Excel or Google Sheets. At first glance, it feels like a sensible, cost-effective option: it’s free, flexible, and everyone knows how to use it.
But as soon as your team starts to grow beyond a couple of people, spreadsheets quickly show their limits. What once seemed simple can soon become a source of frustration, mistakes, and wasted time.
The Hidden Problems with Spreadsheet Holiday Trackers
1. Errors creep in easily
Formulas get broken, rows get overwritten, and before long the numbers don’t add up. Even the most careful manager can miss an update when juggling multiple staff leave requests.
2. No real-time visibility
Employees don’t know who else is off unless someone manually updates and shares the sheet. This leads to double bookings and disrupted workflows, especially when more than one person needs the same week off.
3. Approvals are messy
With spreadsheets, requests still tend to come in via email, WhatsApp, or casual chats. Approvals get lost, dates don’t get updated straight away, and confusion follows.
4. Not scalable as you grow
What works for a three-person team simply doesn’t hold up for a team of ten or twenty. The more rows and tabs you add, the more unwieldy the spreadsheet becomes.
Why Small Businesses Stick with Spreadsheets
it’s easy to see why small teams try to make spreadsheets work:
They’re free to use.
No setup or training is needed.
They feel “good enough” at the start.
The problem is, “good enough” quickly turns into “not fit for purpose.” What starts as a simple solution often creates more admin than it saves.
A Smarter Way to Manage Staff Leave
Small teams need something straightforward — not enterprise HR software with a hefty price tag and endless features they’ll never use. The essentials are:
Simple requests and approvals — staff click a button, managers approve in seconds.
A shared calendar — so everyone can see who’s off and when.
Automatic balance tracking — no more broken formulas or forgotten updates.
Quick setup — up and running in minutes, not weeks.
That’s exactly why we built LeaveWise.
LeaveWise vs Spreadsheets
Where spreadsheets cause errors and confusion, LeaveWise brings clarity and simplicity:
Designed specifically for small businesses, not sprawling HR departments.
Affordable pricing that scales with your team.
Instant visibility so staff and managers are always on the same page.
No bloat. No hidden costs. Just an easier way to manage holidays.
Ready to ditch the spreadsheet?
Try LeaveWise today and see how much smoother holiday tracking can be. Right now we’re offering 3 months free — cancel anytime.
Start your free trial using LW3MONTHS at the checkout today!
