Small business owner Narelle Redman had hoped to semi-retire in June to help run a sideline catering outfit with husband Gary.
Her main enterprise, Silveradoh, which sells promotional material to companies, has pivoted successfully to trading in hand sanitiser and face masks since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
"Conferences and people doing events stopped. A few have started coming back, but not very much," she said.
The 50-year-old outdoor event catering company is dormant and receiving cancellations well into next year.
"That was going to be our income, but that has completely gone since February," Ms Redman said.
The Hunter Business Chamber director had expected the catering firm to be back trading by Christmas.
The couple had planned to pass on the branding business to their daughter but have had to keep going to receive JobKeeper.
"We've had Silveradoh for 16 years," Ms Redman said.
"We've really got to get out there and chase it now."
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