Small business swims in uncharted waters. Never have America’s entrepreneurs faced more uncertainty than in the first half of 2020.
First, small business owners dealt with an unprecedented pandemic, which resulted in an unprecedented economic shutdown. According to recent research, the coronavirus has forced three in four U.S. businesses to seek federal aid.
Even more small businesses (82 percent) express “concern” about the COVID-19 pandemic — and its effect on financial solvency long term. Thousands of small businesses closed their doors, and millions of jobs were lost.
Then, the tragic death of George Floyd shook the country, sparking nationwide protests that rocked small businesses to boot. While much of the public outrage was justified and expressed peacefully, some protests turned violent.
Chaos overshadowed order. And looting became widespread, as the rioters exploited tragedy for personal gain.
And, again, small businesses bore the brunt of the crisis. From Boston to New York City and the West Coast, small business owners — many of them retailers — that were already desperate for an economic reopening saw their merchandise either stolen or destroyed. Millions of dollars have been lost.
If there is a silver lining, it’s that America’s small-business community can only go up from here. A worse set of circumstances for small businesses to overcome is unfathomable. Survive this, and you can just about survive anything.
But there can only be a silver lining if we learn our lessons. Only if small business owners use the current crisis as an impetus for change can they protect their interests in the long run. Only then can they protect the interests of their employees and their employees’ families, who rely on their employers to not only survive, but also succeed.
One lesson for small business owners is to review their insurance policies. Between a pandemic and petty crime, small businesses need to be prepared for the worst. More important, they need to be covered for the worst.
Remember: It is possible to buy “business interruption insurance,” which applies to cases of fire or vandalism. Small business owners can similarly file a claim for inventory or income lost due to a riot.
Such insurance generally costs between $500 and $1,500 per year, and its annual cost may be minuscule compared to the inventory and income covered over time. Keeping instance policies in email format is also important, in case physical locations are closed.
Obviously, rates do vary. Higher-value businesses tend to be more expensive to insure. That’s why it is important to contact insurance brokers personally and request quotes online. Doing so now can save time and money for years to come.
Another policy worth considering is terrorism insurance, which can protect small business owners from radical groups. Less than $100 a year, terrorism insurance is an all-too-necessary shield from rioting, looting and the burning of buildings.
Another lesson for small businesses to learn is that security systems are worthwhile investments in times of civil unrest. Nearly 30 percent of all burglaries take place at non-residential properties, such as retail shops.
Fall victim to theft, and small business owners often pay for it out-of-pocket, which can lead to four- and five-figure expenditures that have nothing to do with normal business operations. Invest in proper security measures, and unexpected costs like these become far less likely.
These lessons apply in good times and bad. Small businesses are naturally more prone to risk than large corporations, making it all the more important to control the risk that can be controlled. This includes events such as a public health crisis or social instability.
The last six months have been anything but ideal. But here we are. Now, it’s time to use recent events as guidance for the future.
Now is the time for small business to take every precaution possible.
