"Disaster preparedness" sounds dry, even dull ... until your
business takes a major hit from circumstances beyond your
control. The sudden devastation shakes you to the core. What do
you do?
According to The Gartner Group, an IT industry consulting firm,
four out of ten businesses hurt by disaster never get back on
their feet. Two out of ten more go out of business within two
years after a catastrophic event. The numbers are even more
staggering for small and micro-businesses.
Ironically, smaller companies and home-based businesses are in a
better position to recover quickly - IF they've taken a few
steps in advance to prepare. You can't stop the force of nature.
But you CAN keep your business from becoming another statistic!
Here are three fundamentals to greatly increase the odds that
your small business will survive a disaster:
1. Back up your data. Computer files and sensitive papers
are irreplaceable once they're destroyed. If you work at home,
copy your files daily and place the back ups and important
papers in a fire- and water-resistant safe. Most small
businesses don't do this! But you must if you intend to quickly
resume operations after the moment passes. If possible, keep
your back ups in a separate location from your office.
2. Insure what you can't afford to lose. This usually
elicits a "sure ... right!" from home-based business operators,
especially early in their new careers. But can you afford to pay
the replacement costs yourself? Also, make sure to keep updating
your inventory and equipment list so that you can later prove
your claim. Keep that list in your safe as well.
3. Network to cover your customers during your down-time.
Make friends with other business owners who provide the same
services that you do. Contrary to popular belief, you will
likely gain your customers' loyalty by helping them meet their
needs elsewhere until you're back in service. And if you think
about it, they'll have to go elsewhere anyway while you're
putting things back together!
These three steps - backing up your data, insuring what you
can't afford to lose, and networking with other service
providers - will protect your business from most unnecessary
harm due to disaster. They won't cover everything but they will
get you to "higher ground" if the unthinkable happens.
You can't plan for everything. But most businesses that succumb
to catastrophe do so because they missed the basics. The
terrible moments always pass. Will your business still be
standing?
About the author:
Michael Riley is a freelance business writer who specializes in
trade press and association publications. For expanded
information on this topic, please visit his website,
www.bymichaelriley.com
