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Make an "if I'm off tomorrow" plan for the business

If you broke your leg tonight, could anyone open up, pay the staff or tell customers? Get a one-page continuity plan: who does what, where things are and who to call.

Updated 17 Oct 2026

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The prompt · ChatGPT

Help me make an "if I'm off tomorrow" plan.

My business: [what you do]
People who could step in: [names and roles]
What only I do: [list]
Key suppliers and contacts: [list]
Worst things that could happen: [illness, fire, flood, IT failure]

First ask me up to 5 short questions. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A one-page plan: first 24 hours, first week.
2. A contact sheet.
3. A "where things are" list: keys, documents, accounts (location of the password manager, not the passwords).
4. A message to customers if I'm suddenly away.
5. Look up the NCSC's guidance on backing up data, name it and add a back-up check to the plan.

Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts or figures. UK English.

For the NCSC small business guide on backing up data, use web search and name the page you used. If it doesn't search on its own, open View all tools and choose Search.

Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. what you do: a short note you already have. names and roles: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

The prompt · Copilot

Help me make an "if I'm off tomorrow" plan.

My business: [what you do]
People who could step in: [names and roles]
What only I do: [list]
Key suppliers and contacts: [list]
Worst things that could happen: [illness, fire, flood, IT failure]

First ask me up to 5 short questions. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A one-page plan: first 24 hours, first week.
2. A contact sheet.
3. A "where things are" list: keys, documents, accounts (location of the password manager, not the passwords).
4. A message to customers if I'm suddenly away.
5. Look up the NCSC's guidance on backing up data, name it and add a back-up check to the plan.

Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts or figures. UK English.

For the NCSC small business guide on backing up data, switch to Search mode so the answer comes with a citation.

Stay in this Copilot chat. Leave plugins off, and do not open a file from OneDrive.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. what you do: a short note you already have. names and roles: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

1

You describe your business, the people around you and what only you can do.

2

The assistant asks about keys, accounts, suppliers and the worst things that could happen.

3

You get a one-page plan, a contact sheet, a 'where things are' list and the NCSC guidance on backing up data.

What happens

Use Copilot to make an "if I'm off tomorrow" plan for the business

If you broke your leg tonight, could anyone open up, pay the staff or tell customers? Get a one-page continuity plan: who does what, where things are and who to call.

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