With the recent barring of non-essential businesses to remain open due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mom-and-pop operations are scrambling to adapt to remain in business. The National Federation of Independent Business has stated that 68% of small business owners are very concerned about the ongoing financial impact. So how can you prepare and adapt your business?

Maintain as much of your routine as possible.  This was particularly difficult for me the first week of social distancing. Make sure you are still going to the office every day, be it a brick and motor business or your home office. Continue sending emails and making phone calls to your customers. See if your meetings can be done via Zoom. Even if you are just calling to check in to see how they are mentally, emotionally and physically and not trying to make a sale. Let them know that you are still thinking about them as not only customers, but also as friends.

Make sure you are also still communicating with vendors. Remember, many of them are in the same situation and will totally understand if concessions need to be made for payment.  If they are also local small business owners, they may be willing to barter for services. Try to think outside the box. I’ve also heard of many vendors either providing forgiveness or forbearance of bills during this time.

If you have been forced to reduce your staff, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work that you now need to do to keep your business functional. Take a deep breath and dig in. Remember why you started to begin with. Let that be your driving force. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your community for help! What one business owner lacks, another might be in excess of. This is a time for working together within the community to make it stronger. Please reach out to me if I can be of any assistance to help ease that burden. I too, have been impacted and had to lay employees off, but I also know that I have services that I can use to help someone else.