Good Morning Family. I would like to thank each and everyone who follows us on social media and takes time out of their day to take advantage of the information that we share. Today I am happy to announce that we will continue the tradition of sharing our platform with guest writers. These guest writers bring a wealth of information & experience with them and we feel honored to be able to share their knowledge with our readers. We like to welcome for the first time guest writer Elena Stewart.
This article provides business owners steps to take before reopening your business after being impacted by COVID-19. I hope you find it helpful. Without any further delay, I would like to present the following article by our guest Elena Stewart.
3 Steps to Take Before Reopening Your Business After COVID-19
After weeks of closed doors and dwindling financials, you’re eager to finally reopen your small business. While getting back to business is on the horizon for Texas’s entrepreneurs; business after COVID-19 will look different than it did before. Before you welcome customers and employees back to your business, here are the steps you need to take to prepare.
1. Understand What Reopening Means for Your Business
Will it be back to business as usual, or are precautions still necessary even as stay-at-home orders are lifted? Here’s what small business owners need to know about reopening after COVID-19.
- Governor Abbott has a multi-phase plan for reopening the state of Texas. This plan includes occupancy limits and other restrictions for businesses.
- All businesses are expected to comply with the minimum recommended health protocols. Businesses can find the protocols for their industry at the Texas Department of State Health Service’s webpage.
- Business owners should also know which metro areas require citizens to wear face coverings in public. Holland & Knight provides an overview of face-covering mandates in Texas and what they mean for employers.
2. Revise Your Business Success Strategy
With these protocols in place, businesses may find it difficult to serve as many customers as they used to. Instead of forging ahead, look for ways to accommodate reluctant shoppers at your small business.
- For many businesses, that means moving sales online so they can serve customers who aren’t ready to shop in-person. With curbside pickup and local delivery, businesses can sell local products online without incurring shipping charges.
- Businesses also need to adapt their marketing to the times. Rather than focusing on sales, Work-from-Home Depot recommends demonstrating why your business matters right now and running promotions that generate goodwill with customers.
- Selling a service, not a product? Whether you’re in healthcare, fitness, or finance, you can use web and video conferencing tools to offer remote consultations and classes.
- Implementing these changes calls for the right tools. Here are 16 digital sales tools that businesses can use to serve customers during and after the pandemic.
3. Implement a Health and Safety Plan
Finally, you need a way to keep employees and customers safe when you reopen. These resources will tell you what you need to know about workplace safety in the time of COVID-19.
- Social distancing applies even after businesses reopen. The Society for Human Resources Management explains the fundamentals of workplace social distancing.
- Employees in customer-facing roles should be given additional protections, including personal protective equipment when appropriate.
- Consider customer safety too. Contactless payments, touchless hand sanitizer, and occupancy limits are a few ways businesses can promote a culture of safety.
Resources for North Texas Business Owners
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a first-time business owner, there’s always room to grow. Here’s where you can find resources to start and scale your Texas small business.
- Still operating as a sole proprietor or partnership? Forming an LLC is a smart way to protect your business and yourself. Learn more about forming an LLC in Texas.
- Need help taking your team remote, updating marketing materials, or getting your firm’s financials in order? Connect with fellow business owners in accounting, IT, and more to build a stronger company.
- Whether you’re looking for coronavirus relief or general business advice, you can find it at your local small business development center.
It’s not easy to know the best way forward in unprecedented times like these. But no matter how eager you are to open your doors, it always pays to play it safe. By showing that you’re putting safety first, you can ensure that both employees and customers feel good about getting back to your business.
If you found this article informative and helpful, be sure to leave a comment. For more about Elena Stewart, read her mini-bio below and visit her online.
Elena Stewart is a certified life coach who specializes in the teachings of Brené Brown, Danielle LaPorte, and Marie Forleo. She successfully transitioned from the corporate world to running her own business, and she now helps others achieve their career goals and dreams. You can find her online at elenastewart.com.