A business owner has to be able to roll with the punches and to rise to the occasion to deal with many a problem that pops up in the course of the working day. If you’re not able to make decisions and take action when necessary, it can paralyse your organisation.
Of course, there are some issues that you can’t fix alone and, in those cases, you need to make sure that you have the backup you need in your contact book.
Tech support
If you don’t have your own IT team in-house that’s ready to support you through the many tech difficulties, such as hacking, malware, data loss and even equipment failures, then you can find your productivity grinding to a halt if you’re not able to call anyone for help. Invest in your tech and pair up with a managed service provider and keep their number in your phone so that you’re able to get the tech support you need in a matter of minutes. Otherwise, you can be looking at hours of downtime.
Financial help
Business crises not only squander valuable resources and time but can also come with a hefty price tag. The services required to address a crisis can be costly, and you may need to purchase new equipment to replace any that are damaged in the meantime. To handle such unexpected expenses, it’s essential to have access to funding sources, such as a business credit card, so that you can address the crisis without dipping into your business’s assets.
Know when you need a lawyer
In case of an emergency that exposes your business to legal liabilities, such as an injury on the premise or a data breach, it’s crucial to seek legal protection. Attempting to handle legal matters yourself, especially if you are not a lawyer, could lead to costly mistakes as you may overlook important regulations or laws. It’s always advisable to seek professional help in these situations.
Keep the lights on and the water running
It might seem so basic that it falls beneath your notice, but if any of your business property’s utilities fail, it can result in you having to send employees home because the workplace is no longer fit to suit their needs, which can be very costly. Make sure that you have the number of a commercial plumbing provider as well as an electrician on hand so that you’re able to get the help you need in a matter of moments.
Cleaning up after a hazard
As an employer, you have to make sure that any health hazards are dealt with as soon as possible. For most business owners that work in an office, you might not be too worried about hazards, but in the event of something like a leak or a natural disaster, you might have to make sure that you’re able to reach specialists like a mould removalist in order to make the workplace safe again.
It’s a good idea to seriously consider all potential emergencies in the business and to get the right crisis plans in place, including making contacts with the services that you may rely on. That way, you won’t be stuck, paralysed, worrying about the right course of action when an emergency comes.
