Running your own business might be something you have always dreamed of, but if a sudden disaster strikes, it is important to know how to rebuild and recover.
No matter how much you prepare your business for emergencies or a disaster, sometimes you are taken by surprise. A natural disaster, fire or break-in can damage your property and cost you a great deal in losses.
Assess any physical damage to your property. Take pictures and videos of any damage and contact your insurance company.
Follow your continuity plan
If you have a business plan, it should contain a continuity plan. This is a plan for how to recover after a disaster. A good continuity plan identifies potential disasters and outlines strategies for recovery.
Although you may want to get back to your daily routine as soon as possible after a disaster, that is usually not possible. In fact, you might need to permanently redesign or reorganize key aspects of your business.
Be flexible when deciding how to conduct your business operations immediately after the disaster. Have a plan in place for remote working if your business property is damaged or unsafe to enter.
Take it one day at a time
Give yourself time to adjust to the new routine. Recognize that while it could just be a temporary change, be open to the idea that it might be time to readjust how you do business.
Although a disaster is a negative event, sometimes it results in new ways of doing business that improve the business overall.
For example, if you were the victim of a cyber attack and your intellectual property or customer information was stolen, this could lead to implementing stronger cybersecurity.
Update your business plan
If you do change the way you do business after a disaster, remember to update your business plan. An outdated business plan is not going to help you if another disaster occurs in the future.
Finally, reach out to other business owners and local government organizations for advice and support. Many groups offer financial and other assistance to business owners after a disaster.
