Hartman Inventory, LLC

Preparing for a catastrophic disaster (fire, tornado, etc.) is essential for every business owner. Taking care of customers, fulfilling orders, meeting with potential customers and all the other daily activities required of a small-to-medium sized business owner, make it difficult to find the time to create a disaster plan. Awareness for the need of a plan to deal with business interruption is high. Execution of this awareness falls short.

Disaster preparedness, or a business continuity plan, increases a business’ security and stability. This plan also provides an intangible – but very real – benefit. It also provides peace of mind for the entrepreneur as well as the employees.

The Department of Homeland Security’s website offers a significant amount of information to assist business owners in creating a continuity/disaster recovery plan. Three key steps towards disaster recovery are:

Protect your investment

• Review your insurance coverage annually with your insurance agent
• Inform your insurance agent of any major changes during the year
• Create an inventory of all business assets
• Back up all records with an encrypted, on-line backup service

Plan to stay in business

• Create a written emergency procedures checklist
• Compile an emergency contact list
• Determine a potential alternative business location
• Secure backup suppliers

Talk to your employees

• Get your employees’ involvement and buy-in to the process.
• Advise your staff of emergency supplies that your business can provide
• Develop, communicate and practice an evacuation plan

These are just the beginning, but a very important start. Proper planning now will help ensure recovery from a disaster of any kind, from a computer crash to total destruction from a fire or natural disaster. This proactive measure will help ensure that your business can recover and reopen quickly. But there is more to this than just reopening – you are honoring your commitment to your employees, customers and the local economy.