protect your business
There is no doubt that setting up a business is an extremely challenging prospect for anyone. That's why it's so important that you keep it protected from any potential disasters that may occur. The last thing that you want to happen is that you invest a great deal of time and money into developing your business, only for it to suddenly go up in smoke.
When it comes to protecting your company from disaster, there are a few things that you can do to make sure you are in the best position possible.
Put a Disaster Plan in Place
The first thing that you need to do is to put a disaster plan in place so you are fully prepared for every eventuality. It may be that you are unable to continue working from your current location. It may be that your website goes wrong and you lose access to your important files.
Whatever is the case, you should think about how you will respond to each situation and create a plan of action. This way, you won’t be floundering around trying to solve the issue with no idea exactly what you are doing.
For example, I have a sick day plan. Since I'm the only one at my business, no one is here to take over when I'm sick. So, I plan my schedule carefully to make room for a floating day off. Usually this means that I have to stay one day ahead on all of my assignments.
Make Sure Your Business is Well Protected
You will want to make sure that your business is protected from all eventualities by having the right type of insurance in place, too. As well as your standard business insurance, it is worth ensuring you are fully covered for other situations which may arise, such as flood or earthquake, it your current policy doesn't cover them.
You should also make sure you know of a good lawyer who is well versed in copyright, commercial law and asset protection, amongst other areas. You never know what situations could occur down the line so it's good to have a phone number handy.
Backup All Your Files
back up your files
Nowadays, there are a lot of the potential disasters that threaten your computer. Hackers, spills, accidental droppage and more can ruin your company if you don't have your files backed up.
Many people are now opting for cloud-based storage, and this could well be the type of system that offers you the most protection and ensures you keep access to your important files. These usually charge a monthly fee.
A free option is to open a Gmail account and email everything to yourself. It's a pain, but it works.
There are also external hard drives you can purchase once and use for the duration of your business. Just be sure to update the hard drive with new files at least once a week.
Build Up a Strong Support Network
In business, the relationships you form can make or break your company. If you have people to turn to when times get tough who can offer support, you will be in a much better position to deal with any situations that may occur.
Similarly, if you have clients who have become close to you and are personally invested in your company, they are much more likely to stick by your side as your business recovers.
