If there is one nightmare that is inevitable in the business world, then it is uncertainty. In fact, a whopping 90% of all existing businesses get involved in unexpected litigation at one time or another. There may be odds against your success; nevertheless, successful entrepreneurs are those who can weather the storm. Learning how to rise above uncertainties is an excellent skill to master as a businessperson, especially in these unruly days of the COVID-19 impact. Fortunately, there are ways you can safeguard your small business against economic crises, and here are a few.
- Diversify your business services
The coronavirus has shown that business owners who can adapt to changes and diversify their offerings can survive the harshest crisis. For instance, restaurant and pub operators that switched to home delivery services amidst the pandemic have exhibited a great sense of diversity. The same is true for gyms that started offering virtual workout routines in response to social-distancing directives. As a small business owner, you also need to be flexible and willing to adapt to changes. Diversifying your products and services also makes it easier to sustain your income flow even if times are hard for others. Additionally, your customers will trust you since they know that uncertainties are not likely to disrupt your services.
- Insure your business
According to Karl Hamann of QB Insurance, insuring your business is a good idea if you want to protect it against risks. Volatility is predicted to persist through the coming years; therefore, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to prioritize comprehensive risk management. This way, they can operate with their peace of mind knowing that economic uncertainties cannot keep them out of business abruptly. Studies have shown that 53% of SMEs hate to buy additional insurance packages aside from their mandatory coverage. Despite this lukewarm attitude, small business owners are prone to obvious risks such as cyber-attacks and liability issues. Therefore, it will not hurt to get additional security.
- Make legal consultations
Forbes estimates that around 36% to 53% of all small business owners run into at least one litigation tussle yearly. The point is that business lawsuits are part of the entrepreneurship journey. So, you need to make legal consultations as you run your small enterprise. Do not assume that you are never going to get sued. Mitigating the risks of litigation can save you money and also safeguard the long-term existence of your company. Fortunately, there are many world-class criminal defense attorneys to consult if you run into lawsuits.
- Constantly review your business
Successful entrepreneurs are forward-thinkers, and it is very important to periodically assess your business and perform risk analysis. There is no way you can prepare for uncertainty if you cannot foresee it. Continually reviewing your business to ensure that it is up to date with current standards is the best way to do that. For example, check your IT tools to see if they are outdated, and perform significant upgrades as and when the need arises.
