5 Tips for Businesses To Get Back on Their Feet

To slow the spread of COVID-19, nearly all non-essential businesses throughout the country shut down. Or, if they remained open, they may have operated on a highly limited basis. While vital, this has had a devastating impact on nearly all industries. Thankfully, as America slowly reopens, businesses across it are opening well.

However, to avoid further economic fallout, this reopening must be handled carefully. Businesses need to be thoughtful, safe and willing to adjust as they begin to operate again. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered five of the most important tips to help businesses get back on their feet.
 

1. Develop a Flexible Reopening Plan
It’s important to recognize that just because the country is reopening doesn’t mean it’s back to business as usual. Your day-to-day may look nothing like it did before COVID-19 hit — and things may be atypical for a while.

In addition to general operational plans, you’ll want to consider what to do if:

• Business is low post-opening;
• There’s another major COVID-19 outbreak in your area;
• A significant portion of your staff is unable or unwilling to return to work yet;
• An employee is diagnosed with COVID-19.

While having a plan is step one, you’ll also need to be flexible as needed. As you’ve learned this year, it’s impossible to predict exactly what challenges you’ll face each day.
 

2. Stay Informed On All CDC and Local Government Guidelines
To keep your employees and customers safe, you’ll need to follow CDC guidelines for sanitizing, cleaning, and social distancing. You also must comply with any local regulations, in addition to national mandates. Since these are unprecedented times, you’ll need to stay informed of new guidelines and regulations as soon as they’re released.
 

3. Be Mindful of Your Employees’ Wellbeing

Not only has your business been through a traumatic, trying time — many of your employees have as well. Even if they weren’t personally physically affected by the pandemic, they likely experienced emotional, financial, or mental stress. Be considerate with your employeesand do what is needed to help them feel safe as they return to work.

Also, keep in that mind, even if the worst of the pandemic has passed, your employees could still become ill. Consider performing routine COVID-19 health checks, and have a plan for how to handle any infected employees.

4. Reach Out and Work With Other Local Businesses

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that our communities are strongest when we work as one. Keep that spirit of unity alive and reach out to local businesses and franchises for help. Whether it’s clothing companies making masks for frontline workers or restaurants dropping off meals to hospitals, we’re in this together. And be ready to pay it forward and help others yourself, like many franchises owners are:

“Despite all the uncertainty and loss that has come from this crisis, our people are committed to restoring lives and businesses and they take great pride in that,” says Mike Stahl, SERVPRO’s CMO of SERVPRO. “I’ve been incredibly humbled by the outreach efforts of our franchise owners throughout the country. So many are offering to disinfect emergency vehicles for front line workers at no cost, while others are utilizing social media and other communication means to ensure their communities know that SERVPRO is there to help if they need us.”

5. Be Ready to Adapt to Your Customers’ New Needs

No matter what industry you’re in, things have likely changed for your customers or audience in this pandemic. And the same is true for your customers. They may be nervous about in-person interactions, have less income than before, or have different wants and needs. (For instance, instead of wanting the most inexpensive cleaning supplies, now they may want the most powerful.) Be mindful of how COVID-19 has impacted your customer base, and be ready to alter things to suit their needs.

This could include offering clear evidence you’re meeting CDC/local social distancing  guidelines (like having six-foot markers on your floor or other signage). It may also mean offering new products or services. You also need to consider providing pick up, delivery or even remote consultations (through Zoom or a similar interface).

Business Can Get Back On Their Feet — As Long As They’re Well-Prepared

COVID-19 has presented businesses with a challenge unlike nearly any before. But with the right gameplan, reopening can be safe, profitable, and even good for your community. Stay informed, show concern for your employees, and be flexible to both your own and your market’s needs. Together, we can get through — and come out even stronger than before