You have started a small business and are experiencing success with it beyond your wildest dreams. You are doing what you love and enjoying being your own boss and setting your own schedule. Then, the unthinkable happens - you or a family member are in an awful car wreck with injuries that require a hospital stay and lengthy recovery time, perhaps, or maybe one of your children gets ill and you find yourself going to multiple doctors' visits. The small business owner, often, is the only one running the show, and when he or she finds himself suddenly out of commission, it can call the very survival of that business into question.
It is absolutely critical that every small business owner make contingency plans for just such an occasion. It would also behoove them to prepare plans to put in place in case of a natural disaster or local emergency that would affect their place of business or their manner of doing business. Plan for the worst, while hoping and praying that the plan never needs to be put into action. If the need never arises, great! If against all odds, you find it necessary to implement it, then at least you are prepared, as best you knew how, to meet the disaster head-on and give your business a fighting chance to survive.
In anticipation of your being unable to fulfill your normal duties in relation to your small business, train any employees that you may have in all aspects of the business. Pick out the most reliable and responsible of the group and train them to be your assistant manager. If you do not have any employees, then consider who among your family members or friends might be willing for you to train them to take over your small business for a time, if it were to become necessary. Train them initially and then keep them up-to-date periodically with any new information they would need to help them run your business. You might even consider taking them on as a part-time employee. Make sure that they are aware of any small business help or small business resources that would be available to them in your absence.
Brainstorm ways to continue doing business in the event of a natural disaster or local emergency. This will depend, of course, on the nature of your business, but explore all of the alternatives that might be available to you during a potential problem. Make any necessary purchases for things to have on-hand such as a generator to keep your electricity going in case of a power outage.
Consider other things that could cause a disruption to your normal business proceedings. Be sure to keep all equipment properly maintained to avoid them breaking down and causing you to lose valuable time and ultimately costing you money. Provide adequate safety training to staff to avoid accidents.
Make your plans and then periodically review and update them if necessary. Do not, however, allow yourself to dwell on them overmuch or worry them to death.
It is absolutely critical that every small business owner make contingency plans for just such an occasion. It would also behoove them to prepare plans to put in place in case of a natural disaster or local emergency that would affect their place of business or their manner of doing business. Plan for the worst, while hoping and praying that the plan never needs to be put into action. If the need never arises, great! If against all odds, you find it necessary to implement it, then at least you are prepared, as best you knew how, to meet the disaster head-on and give your business a fighting chance to survive.
In anticipation of your being unable to fulfill your normal duties in relation to your small business, train any employees that you may have in all aspects of the business. Pick out the most reliable and responsible of the group and train them to be your assistant manager. If you do not have any employees, then consider who among your family members or friends might be willing for you to train them to take over your small business for a time, if it were to become necessary. Train them initially and then keep them up-to-date periodically with any new information they would need to help them run your business. You might even consider taking them on as a part-time employee. Make sure that they are aware of any small business help or small business resources that would be available to them in your absence.
Brainstorm ways to continue doing business in the event of a natural disaster or local emergency. This will depend, of course, on the nature of your business, but explore all of the alternatives that might be available to you during a potential problem. Make any necessary purchases for things to have on-hand such as a generator to keep your electricity going in case of a power outage.
Consider other things that could cause a disruption to your normal business proceedings. Be sure to keep all equipment properly maintained to avoid them breaking down and causing you to lose valuable time and ultimately costing you money. Provide adequate safety training to staff to avoid accidents.
Make your plans and then periodically review and update them if necessary. Do not, however, allow yourself to dwell on them overmuch or worry them to death.