Prepare your business before disaster strikes

A flood, fire, storm, or extended power outage closes far more small businesses for good than a bad economy ever does — and the ones that reopen are almost always the ones that prepared. You don't need a fancy plan; you need a few basics in place before the bad day, because after it's too late. An hour of prep now can save the whole business later.

Do this

1. Write a simple continuity plan: how you'd keep operating (or reopen fast) if you lost your location for a week.
2. Back up what you can't replace: financial records, customer data, and key documents — stored in the cloud or off-site.
3. Keep an emergency contact list: employees, key customers, suppliers, your insurance agent, and your bank.
4. Build a cash reserve if you can — even a small cushion is what buys you time to recover.

Disaster-prep basics

• A one-page continuity plan: how you operate/reopen if you lose your location
• Financial records, customer data, and key docs backed up off-site / in the cloud
• Emergency contact list: staff, top customers, suppliers, insurer, bank
• Copies of insurance policies + agent's number stored somewhere you can reach them
• A cash reserve, even a small one, set aside for emergencies
• Someone besides you who knows how to access accounts and systems