Small Business Lifeline Crain Communications

For the last episode of Small Business Lifeline we are going to talk to two small business officials about what resources are out there for small business owners.

Tips:

Know that. Programs like EIDL are still lending money to busineses.

Reach out to the SBA and local small business agencies for resources and referrals to legal and accounting services.

Boost your chances of bringing in business by getting MWBE certified.

Tips:

Make sure to invest in outdoor furniture that can withstand more wear and tear for long term outdoor use.

Look to the apres ski businesses for tips on how to embrace heated flooring and heat lamps.

Promote your great connectivity if you are trying to attract corporate clients for meetings.

Experiment with new outdoor spaces like igloos, cabanas and other elaborate tents with details like chandeliers.

Tips:
* Work with an insurance broker to get your workers the best coverage and pricing especially with a potential next wave of Covid.
* With the boom in telehealth, make sure your insurer lets workers go to their regular doctors for care.
* Ask about lower deductible and copay options.
* Ask insurers to kick in for services your small business may no longer be able to afford.  

Tips:

As we head into a possible second wave, realize that workers comp does not cover most employees who get Covid. So do everything you can to keep your business environment safe.

Mitigate cyber security issues with little tricks like adjusting workers’ screens so that they automatically log out of their computers more quickly than usual.

Just because other businesses are doing things through Covid, weigh the liability risks before diving in like expanding delivery service, cutting insurance or bringing your business outside.

Small businesses are all in the throes of redesigning their spaces to make them more post Covid friendly. But in these cash strapped times, they don’t have much cash to spend. This episode offers some affordable suggestions as to how small businesses can make their offices safe and comfortable for workers - as well as their offices at home.

Tips:
·        Tap into the current network of unemployed design professionals for help in making your offices more Covid friendly.
·        Try basic moves like removing excess furniture and introducing more arrows to direct people in one direction.
·        If you’re in a really small space, rethink how you do business (a small restaurant could introduce a coffee take out window)
·        Seek out websites that offer affordable office chairs your workers can use at home since remote offices look like they’re here to stay.

For businesses that still can not bring in any money right now, this episode features interviews with experts in the travel industry on what they are doing to survive.

Tips:
·        Apply for grants and expect that the applications tend to be shorter right now.
·        Remain engaged with your clients through newsletters, blogs and webcasts.
·        Encourage customers to keep their deposits with you with plans to travel in the future.