Maybe your business has never experienced a natural disaster. But the truth is that hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and floods are happening more and more often and inflicting billions of dollars of damage on businesses and economies each year.
It’s critical that your business prepares for the worst. That may seem pretty obvious, but the shocking fact is that 70% of small business owners say they don’t have a written disaster plan in place. And, without a detailed disaster plan in place before a crisis, your business might not reopen after. The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports that 40% to 60% of small businesses don’t reopen after a disaster.
There are a number of simple things you can do before a disaster happens, from backing up your important documents and contact information, to verifying your Google My Business listing, to installing smart devices to ensure that the small business insurance claims process is easier. There are also a number of best practices during and after a disaster.
Check out this infographic to learn 12 tips to prepare your business for a disaster and to get up and running after.
Bio: Meredith Wood is the editor-in-chief at Fundera. She has specialized in financial advice for small business owners for almost a decade, and is sought out frequently for her expertise in small business lending. Meredith’s advice has appeared in the SBA, SCORE, Yahoo!, Amex OPEN Forum, Fox Business, American Banker, Small Business Trends, and more
