A guest consultant advises a Mainebiz reader on what businesses can do now to prepare for COVID closures (or other crises) in days to come.
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Q: What is the best way for small businesses to deal with the possibility of future emergency shutdowns, like a COVID flare-up in the fall?
ACE advises: Businesses need contingency action plans in hand to successfully deal with emergencies.
The economic fallout of the COVID shutdown is just one example of an emergency situation that could be addressed by a written plan. With forethought, weather-related disasters and other large-scale events that may affect business operations for extended periods of time can also be mitigated.
A contingency action plan should begin with a prompt for when the plan goes into effect. Ideally, it would contain a decision tree for whether the business should remain open at all, or possibly operate at a limited capacity.
For limited operation, the plan should include an immediate review of all financial liabilities and quick reduction of any extraneous purchases. Essentials only.
The business owner should evaluate — and include in the plan — the specific products and services that would be offered during an emergency, taking into consideration the staffing level needed to keep the business operating at a reduced capacity.
Streamlining the business as much as possible will diminish the disorganized paralysis that often happens when an emergency occurs. The planning for an unexpected emergency can seem daunting, but having a plan of action beforehand will provide stability and direction in an economic crisis.
Before the next emergency occurs, please consider thinking out the process of a limited operation, and then put in writing the actions that work best for you.
Kimberly Gilbert of Gilbert Business Consulting can be reached at kim@gilbertbusinessconsulting.com.