Hurricane season is fast approaching, and it is a good idea for small business owners to address their emergency plans. Being prepared for emergencies may seem like a lot of work and very costly, but it could make a big difference in how your business fares during and after the storm. When readying your business for a possible emergency, there are many different factors to consider when preparing your business. Here are some of the essential steps and supplies needed to help make sure your business is ready for this year's storm season.

Have A Plan

Develop and plan. Within this plan, you should include procedures and policies to outline business continuity, employee safety, and a fallback plan if your business suffers severe damage.

• Decide what will set the plan into motion
• Designate a chain of command
• Obtain an alternate location for business continuity if necessary
• Provide employees with evacuation routes
• Have emergency contact information for each employee so you can reach them after the storm
• Back up all critical data regularly
• Inventory assets regularly
• Ensure you have the proper insurance to protect your business in case of severe damage
  

Protect Your Business

Think about what it will take to board up windows and safeguard all your small business items. Be sure to have cash on hand to purchase supplies and potentially pay some of your employees just in case the electronic paying system goes down. Also, take a moment to look in your buildings surrounding area and make sure any hazards are either removed or relocated to minimize potential threats.

Have the tools, materials, and a plan to protect your business from damage.

• Invest in shutters or plywood to protect windows from projectiles and debris
• Regularly trim trees and hedges to remove anything that could cause structural damage
• Have your building inspected to make sure it can withstand a storm
• Be prepared to move valuable equipment to higher ground in case of flooding

Prepare An Emergency Kit:

There are some essential items you should keep at your business in the event that anyone gets stranded or your business becomes a shelter for those who had to evacuate. Gather these items and make sure the location of the items is known.

• Bottled water
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• First Aid kit
• Non-Perishable food
• Cleaning supplies
• Tool kit

In addition to setting up this kit, develop a list of essential personal items for when and if you seek shelter in your place of business. These may include:

• Cash
• Coolers/Ice
• Gas
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Air mattresses
  

Backup Generator

Having a commercial backup generator can be helpful not only during the storm but afterward, too. It is vital for your business to be back up and operational as soon as possible once a storm passes. In some cases, you may be without power for several weeks and unable to operate unless you have a generator to keep you going. During the after-storm outages, many patrons will be looking for a business with power that can provide their services. Whether you own a small store, restaurant, mechanic shop, or liquor store, you will have customers that require your services.

While we all hope for the best during hurricane season, it is important that you are as well prepared for the worst as possible. Protecting your people and business assets is a must to stand any chance of a speedy recovery after a storm.

When you choose Quikstone Capital for your business cash advance, you get a silent funding partner that cares about your success. We're here to help you find the right solution to help your business profit and thrive.