As fast as you can say business disaster, your business can go up in smoke. That's what happened a while back to Castle Carpet One. Gone were thousands of dollars worth of equipment and carpet, plus two smaller businesses that were housed in the same building. Luckily the owners, Larry and Diane Cox, had plenty of business insurance to cover their physical losses. But they lost their most important business asset - customer records - because of failed back up systems. Rebuilding their customer base will be tough and the long-term revenue impact is hard to measure.
With disasters like hurricanes, tornados, fires, floods and terrorism, to name a few, it's critical for small companies to have a disaster plan. And for companies with only one location, it's even more important. One location companies have the potential to lose the entire business if disaster strikes. For a home-based business, it's even worse. You could lose your home and your business in one swoop. Any small business owner can minimize the damage by simply having proactive strategies in place to deal with an emergency when it happens. What if:
* You arrive at your business to find it vandalized and all of your customer records missing?
* Your most critical employee becomes ill and requires an extended absence?
* Your computer hard drive (or network) crashes?
* You become the primary care giver for a sick family member?
* You become ill and can't manage your customer commitments?
* Your business becomes inaccessible because of an emergency on your street?
What would you do?
Would your business survive? What would you grab if you had to leave your business quickly? After the emergency, how would you communicate with your employees? Customers? How long would it take to get back to business as usual?
Without a disaster plan, you'll have a harder time getting back to work. Most businesspeople think it will just take two or three days. That's tough to do if you have no plan for action and little money to move forward. The reality, experts say, is more like several months and at least 25 percent of businesses that experience a disaster never reopen.
But most small business owners just don't make time for planning. We think it's "never going to happen to us." It could. The time to formalize a game plan for an emergency is before it happens. Do it now.
Denise O'Berry is a small business consultant located in Florida. For disaster planning tools and tips, visit http://www.myhurricanecenter.com
Barrington South Lincoln Stretch rentals .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhen in doubt, cut that out! Yeah, yea, doubting Thomas... Read More
David E. Gumpert, author of Burn Your Business Plan, often... Read More
Regroup?is this a new management trend? Not a chance! Regroup... Read More
"Did you hear what your competitor is doing?" This question... Read More
Is there really anything as a problem? Does chaos or... Read More
The new check cashing instant clearing will take some time... Read More
Writing a business plan is no easy task, sure you... Read More
Writing a business plan is an essential part of the... Read More
Why do so many companies languish and watch as their... Read More
Writing a business plan to help you direct and manage... Read More
No "meme" isn't a typo and Got Milk, the more... Read More
The first step in starting a restaurant is proper planning.... Read More
If you are looking for a partner, funding, angle investor... Read More
How you finance the expansion of your business is important.... Read More
Anyone who has been watching the Idaho Market Carefully for... Read More
In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More
People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More
A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals,... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains fits multiple services market niche and healthcare... Read More
Human beings are rational agents. Rationality endorses one to take... Read More
If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More
Businesses tend to avoid doing their annual business plan thinking... Read More
In this small article we'll concentrate on farmers associations and... Read More
Business planning is widely acknowledged as one of the keys... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
Downers Grove limo Chicago ..As fast as you can say business disaster, your business... Read More
A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?"... Read More
Imagine an office without a desk, or lights, a computer,... Read More
Why do so many companies languish and watch as their... Read More
To Grow (Catapult) Your Business That's Why.When it's in your... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More
Diversify - to make diverse, give variety, to balance, to... Read More
Succession planning requires the owner of a small or medium-sized... Read More
One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature... Read More
David E. Gumpert, author of Burn Your Business Plan, often... Read More
One of the key challenges for any business is to... Read More
The University of Exeter in the United Kingdom recently published... Read More
Can you imagine going on a road trip without knowing... Read More
We all agree Strategic Planning is a critical part of... Read More
More than $117 billion passed hands from Internet shoppers to... Read More
Do you work in or own a business that's affected... Read More
Before becoming a netpreneaur, I was an entrepreneur. First, I... Read More
Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in... Read More
Please take a moment before you read any further and... Read More
The new check cashing instant clearing will take some time... Read More
You know you need a business plan. You probably realize... Read More
Every decade we seem to come up with a buzz-word... Read More
"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More
How important is a vision statement to your company or... Read More
Strategic Planning |