| "Disaster preparedness" sounds dry, even dull ... | | | | business operators, especially early in their new |
| until your business takes a major hit from | | | | careers. But can you afford to pay the |
| circumstances beyond your control. The sudden | | | | replacement costs yourself? Also, make sure to |
| devastation shakes you to the core. What do you | | | | keep updating your inventory and equipment list |
| do? | | | | so that you can later prove your claim. Keep that |
| According to The Gartner Group, an IT industry | | | | list in your safe as well. |
| consulting firm, four out of ten businesses hurt by | | | | 3. Network to cover your customers during your |
| disaster never get back on their feet. Two out of | | | | down-time. Make friends with other business |
| ten more go out of business within two years | | | | owners who provide the same services that you |
| after a catastrophic event. The numbers are | | | | do. Contrary to popular belief, you will likely gain |
| even more staggering for small and | | | | your customers' loyalty by helping them meet |
| micro-businesses. | | | | their needs elsewhere until you're back in service. |
| Ironically, smaller companies and home-based | | | | And if you think about it, they'll have to go |
| businesses are in a better position to recover | | | | elsewhere anyway while you're putting things |
| quickly - if they've taken a few steps in advance | | | | back together! |
| to prepare. You can't stop the force of nature. | | | | These three steps - backing up your data, insuring |
| But you can keep your business from becoming | | | | what you can't afford to lose, and networking |
| another statistic! | | | | with other service providers - will protect your |
| Here are three fundamentals to greatly increase | | | | business from most unnecessary harm due to |
| the odds that your small business will survive a | | | | disaster. They won't cover everything but they |
| disaster: | | | | will get you to "higher ground" if the unthinkable |
| 1. Back up your data. Computer files and sensitive | | | | happens. |
| papers are irreplaceable once they're destroyed. If | | | | You can't plan for everything. But most |
| you work at home, copy your files daily and place | | | | businesses that succumb to catastrophe do so |
| the back ups and important papers in a fire- and | | | | because they missed the basics. The terrible |
| water-resistant safe. Most small businesses don't | | | | moments always pass. Will your business still be |
| do this! But you must if you intend to quickly | | | | standing? |
| resume operations after the moment passes. If | | | | (For more information on preparing your business |
| possible, keep your back ups in a separate | | | | for surviving and recovering from disaster, please |
| location from your office. | | | | see the expanded article series at the website |
| 2. Insure what you can't afford to lose. This | | | | listed below.) |
| usually elicits a "sure ... right!" from home-based | | | | (c) 2005 Michael Riley. All rights reserved. |