Your business can sustain many types of commercial property damage. Any damage will negatively affect your business, so it’s crucial to take preventive measures to lessen your business owner’s risks. It’s essential to protect your business in the event of an injury, fire, or any other natural disaster.

Handling property damage can seem like a strenuous task, but ensuring you’re reducing risk and protecting your assets will pay off in the long run. This is why it’s important to implement lighting control and any other systems to monitor your business security.

Let’s dive into some ways you can protect your business and handle property damage if the situation ever presents itself.

Types of Property Damage

You must understand what types of property damage can impact your business to take the necessary steps to take care of insurance claims in the future. Here are some common property damage issues that arise for small businesses:

• Roof damage
• Damage to outdoor signs and lighting fixtures
• Foundation damage
• Interior damage
• Window damage
• Exterior siding damage
• Burglary or theft
• Fire or water damage

Customers and employees are usually careful not to cause damage, but accidents do happen, and some wear and tear are challenging to avoid. One of the simplest ways to prevent property damage is to make necessary repairs as soon as you see damage to any part of the building you’re operating in.

If there’s a bad rainstorm and you notice a leaky roof, be sure to hire a contractor to fix the damage before it creates an unsafe environment for you, your employees, and your customers. Once you fix the roof, be sure to take preventive measures to ensure your roof is sturdy and durable. Being proactive in these circumstances will only help you and protect your business from experiencing further damage.

Types of Business Insurance Coverage

Because it’s common for businesses to sustain property damage, it’s crucial to research various types of insurance coverage. Protecting your business with insurance is a guaranteed way to avoid paying for future expenses due to property damage. Every business owner should have insurance coverage, regardless of the industry or size of the business.

Two essential types of insurance a small business should have are commercial property insurance and general public liability insurance:

Commercial Property Insurance

This type of insurance protects anything you own that could potentially be damaged. Unexpected events like fires, natural disasters, and theft are examples of what is covered when you invest in commercial property insurance.

General Liability Insurance

If someone is injured on your property, you could be held liable. Say a customer trips over a misplaced item. In that case, they may choose to sue you for negligence. General liability coverage will protect you from any unavoidable accidents that happen on your premises.

Dealing With Property Damage

It may be overwhelming the first time you encounter property damage at your place of work. You must handle these situations promptly so you can file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible.

Step 1: Protect Undamaged Items

The first thing to do if any area of your property has been damaged is to prevent further damage. For example, if there’s a flood, remove any undamaged equipment or furniture. Use common sense in these types of situations — the goal is to keep a bad situation from getting worse.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company

After isolating the damage, the next step you should take is to contact your insurance agent. Share all of the necessary details with them, and be sure to take photos to document the damage. Filing a claim with your insurance company will protect your business and keep you from paying repair expenses upfront.

Step 3: Take Inventory of Your Damage

Your insurance agent and adjuster will likely want documentation and a list of all the damaged items you’ve encountered. Creating a complete list of these items will help you file a claim with your insurance company.

Step 4: Wait for Your Claim to Be Paid

The last thing you want is for your claim processing to take longer than expected, but it may happen. Try to remain patient as your insurance company works on handling your case.

In the meantime, contact your insurance agent and get a brief overview of what you are entitled to based on your other coverage. You may be able to rent specific equipment if it falls within your coverage, which will get you back up and running until your claim is paid.

You may realize after the fact that you need to upgrade your insurance coverage. Maybe it didn’t meet all of your needs, or you found there were more risks to your business than you initially thought. Be sure to assess your coverage and see where improvements can be made to protect you from any property damage instances that could happen in the future.

Preventing Damage in the First Place

It’s no secret that property damage can occur through acts of nature, and most damage cannot be anticipated. However, educating yourself on the risks that come with operating a commercial property will leave you better prepared to handle instances of damage. Documentation can mean the difference between your claim being accepted or denied.

The pandemic hit full-service restaurants the most. National Restaurant News reported more than 79,438 restaurants in the United States closed permanently, or around 10.2%. In addition, food trucks took a hard hit, with 22.5% shutting down. However, quick-service places did slightly better, with closures around 9.8%. 

Which businesses survived the rapid shifts in the economy and social norms? Some were agile enough to adapt to the changes and keep business coming in through social distancing guidelines and people’s fears. The way the industry looks changed forever, but it’s set to make a comeback in 2021. 

You can expect a few changes and challenges in the coming years. Here are some ways you can embrace the new playing field.

1. Create a Vibe

Although chains often fared better during the pandemic, many mom-and-pop restaurants survived the storm. Most of these places had a unique angle and excellent food. If you own a small cafe without a lot of personality, rethink your concept.

How can you draw people in and make them want to return with family and friends? The fresher your take, the better you’ll do. But at the same time, you need food most people enjoy eating. While fusion restaurants have their place, the combinations aren’t always popular with all diners. So make sure your patrons are ready for your menu. 

2. Figure Out Social Distance and Capacity

The coming year is an excellent time to improve operations and figure out how to maintain social distancing while remaining profitable. While the number of coronavirus cases is on the decline, new variants are in the U.S. There may also be other infectious diseases trailing behind. 

While local governments ease restrictions, smart owners still follow CDC guidelines to set table distances and keep patrons and employees safer. You can use people counting systems to monitor how many are in your establishment and adapt as needed. 

3. Prepare for Demand

In a recent survey by the National Restaurant Association, researchers found consumers are tired of the very limited dining out options. Pent-up demand is growing, with roughly 83% of diners saying they’d like to eat out on-premises more often than they currently are. 

When things fully reopen, expect a surge of business. Make sure you have the staff, supplies and space to accommodate the increased demand. Now is the time to ramp up your processes to speed things up. Add a few tables to an outdoor patio. Train servers, cooks and bussers to work efficiently and get customers in and out rapidly. 

4. Embrace New Concepts

Although the restaurant industry is set to make a comeback, it is forever changed by the events of 2020. Although people want the option of dining in-house again, they also love the convenience of carry-out and delivery.

Embrace new technology allowing them to order online or reserve seating via text message. To reduce overhead and wasted food, some chefs have gone to a pre-order concept where they take a limited number of orders for a single-option menu. They then deliver or have a pickup. 

Don’t be afraid to try new things to keep the cash flowing, like turning your home into a restaurant. 

5. Find Great Employees

The US Department of Labor recently reported some dismal numbers for the restaurant industry trying to attract and keep workers. A record 5.6% of restaurant workers quit in April, while job openings increased to 350,000 new positions. 

Hiring and keeping excellent staff isn’t easy, particularly in a business where people put in long, grueling hours with no promise of tips. The situation is particularly difficult for restaurant owners already operating on thin margins. The idea of paying workers more and adding benefits may not even be a possibility for some.

You can attract and keep staff with a few concepts. First, offer perks, such as flexible schedules and as much base pay as you can afford. You can also offer benefits chains don’t, such as a few sick days or helping pay for college classes related to the industry. 

Survey your current workers about what would entice them to say and offer the things you can. The labor shortage is a serious issue for small business owners striving to make a profit, so you may need to get creative, hire younger workers or take a chance on a retired senior citizen. 

6. Invest in Automation

More restaurants are turning to ordering kiosks and automation as we move toward a more technological age. However, the increase in labor costs and lack of qualified candidates makes these options even more attractive. 

One drawback to computer models, however, is you lose the human touch with your customers. They may not feel the same sense of loyalty they do to the hostess greeting them by name when they arrive at their favorite restaurant. 

Make sure you adapt to the changing industry while still keeping old principles such as customer-centric service. At some point in the dining out process, people need interaction with another human and a connection to the personalities working there. 

Uneven but Positive Recovery

Although the economic recovery won’t happen overnight, things are looking up for most business owners. Keep your menus streamlined and costs as low as possible. Expect periods of demand and slow times. Allow time for customers and businesses to adapt to a new world with more technology, less contact and better methods. 

If you’ve been holding on by a thread, know the end is in sight. People want to go back to dining out. They’re just waiting for the opportunity to do so, and you’ll be ready to take advantage of the increased need. 

Provided by Quikserv a leader in drive thru window systems

According to the Blackbaud Institute Index, charitable giving saw a 25.3% increase in the last year. For several years, digital donations rose steadily. Raising funds online seems to be a long-term trend, so figuring out how it works best for your organization helps with cash flow.

The many advantages of online fundraising include lower advertising costs and instant cash influx. However, every nonprofit faces some difficulties when raising money on the internet. Here are the most common ones and how to solve them for your charity. 

1. Knowing Your Audience

Before you market your nonprofit online, you must understand your target audience. You can waste a lot of money throwing ads at people who don’t match your typical donor profile. 

Take the time to create a buyer persona, so you understand the type of person who gives to your organization. Where do they live? What is their age? Once you’ve laid out all the demographics, take a look at the psychographics. What drives your donors to give to an outfit such as yours?

2. Generating Donor Excitement

Online giving may have the added struggle of getting donors excited about giving. When you host an in-person event, you can invite speakers, those who’ve received help from your organization and add some bells and whistles to encourage people to write a check.

It’s a little more difficult to tap into the peer pressure mindset present at many fundraising dinners and auctions. People miss out on the chance to socialize with other supporters. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to generate excitement. 

You might wonder how can you keep donors engaged online. Get an influencer to speak virtually, offer chat rooms and breakout sessions, follow-up via email. Think about the types of activities you have at in-person events and translate them into virtual models. 

3. Figuring Out Payment Methods

When you host in-person events, you likely collect checks and cash. Online fundraising is a bit different. People are much more likely to pay via a third-party vendor or using a credit card. Some will use ACH withdrawal from their checking accounts.

Keep your life simple and tap into third-party integrations via Apple Pay, Google, PayPal and Stripe. Consider if accepting cyber currency might give you an additional edge. Pay careful attention to the fees associated with any payment service you use. 

Most of the third-party providers allow donors to set up recurring payments so encourage monthly giving subscriptions. You should also share an address for those who prefer to stay old school and mail a check. 

4. Creating an Engaging Website

Your website can make or break your fundraising efforts. Look at the page through the eyes of potential donors. Why should they part with their money? What would make you want to give?

Share stories about people or causes you’ve helped in the local community. Add videos where you highlight significant projects you’ve been involved with. Use headlines to summarize what the goal of each page on your site is. For example, if the user lands on a page set up to collect donations for a local family, highlight the family and explain where the money goes.

Don’t forget to add a call to action (CTA) button. People need to know the next step to move into the donation funnel. Make it clear where they go next. 

5. Tapping Into Social Media

The Global Trends in Giving Report indicates about 37% of contributors point to social media as inspiring them to give. Around 36% say it is most likely to convince them to sign up for repeat donations. 

However, figuring out how to get the word out on social media isn’t easy. Your best bet is to involve people who already believe in your cause. Share content on your website and then post it to your page. Ask your followers to share with others, comment, like, etc. 

6. Team Up With a Corporation

If your donations are down, one thing you can do is team up with a local company. Look for someone who shares your passion. One example might be a chain of garden stores teaming up with a charity working to improve the local environment or plant trees.

Most corporations have a team of marketing professionals. Try to work with them and come up with a concept. Using the same example from above, the garden centers could offer a tree planted for every five trees a customer buys. 

In addition to a concept, ask if they’ll send out a note to their employees and customers about your organization. Let people know they can help by sending in a tax deductible donation. Remember, people can only deduct so much of their charitable giving now.  

If you choose the right company to work with, they may even have a spokesperson who can reach out to their fan base and share what you do. The more people you reach, the more chances you have to bring in donations. 

Smaller Donations But More of Them

It’s unusual for people to give large donations online. The amounts tend to be smaller. However, they are also more likely to sign up for repeat amounts, helping your cash flow month after month. You have to build the relationship somewhere. 

Start online and then tap into a one-on-one relationship with those who are your most avid supporters. They may later give you larger donations or leave part of their estate to the cause. 

This means that your marketing strategy may need different kinds of support as the year goes on.

Switching up your marketing strategy as the season’s change is also a great way to take full advantage of marketing holidays and seasonal consumer demands. Marketing flexibility can also help you better prepare for slow periods. Be sure to check this 2022 holiday list to prepare your budget and campaign.

Here’s how any business can support its marketing efforts all year long.

Q1 — Late Winter and Early Spring

1. Start With the Big Picture

It’s January — you and your marketing team are likely recovering from the holiday season and the new year. You may also be in a slow period where normal marketing efforts may be less effective. 

As you reflect on the past year, you can take the opportunity to hone your marketing strategy for this year.

Ideally, you already have an annual marketing plan that you started developing last year. Now, during the slow period between New Year’s Day and the first few major holidays of the year — like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day — you have a chance to refine that vision.

Using data from the holidays and last year, you can start to get a better sense of the big picture — like which strategies you want to pursue and the tactics you’ll use.

2. Build Anticipation With Countdown Timers and Daily Deals

During the first few holidays of the year, you’ll have multiple great opportunities to experiment with special approaches to holiday marketing. For example, you could use countdown timers and daily deals, two of the best ways to keep customers engaged and build excitement both before and during an event.

These daily deals would be time-limited, which encourages customers to act fast — and also check back each day to see what’s on sale. Countdown timers that hint at an upcoming event can encourage customers to stay engaged and keep an eye out for updates on what may be in store. 

Q2 — Late Spring/Early Summer

3. Highlight Seasonal Products

At this point in the year, spring has definitely sprung. If you have seasonal products, now is a great time to highlight them with deals, storefront graphics and email campaigns.

You can also reflect seasonal changes using in-store signage or draw inspiration from the changing seasons to highlight marketing campaigns.

 While spring and summer are both great opportunities to take advantage of seasonal imagery in your marketing, you’ll have opportunities all-year round. Fall and winter will both present extra chances to use seasonal differences in marketing — like the changing color of leaves or the possibility of snow.

4. Be Ready to Handle Slow Periods

Throughout the year, you’ll likely have slow periods where fewer customers are interested and you’ll have to work harder to get the same amount of engagement that you would at other times of the year.

The right strategies will get you through slow periods and help you draw in more customers. For example, you can take the time to build out your content strategy or deepen your engagement with customers through channels like email or social media.

A slow period is also a great time to check in with yourself and your team. This can help you avoid burnout and get updates on how campaigns are proceeding. If something is amiss, you’ll have an opportunity to course-correct before it becomes a real problem.

5. Advertise With Events

Slow periods are also a great opportunity to look for advertising opportunities. Industry or local events, for example, happen throughout the year, and are a great place to spread the word about your brand.

Planning ahead and staying on the lookout for events will help you catch any that are relevant to your business, or that might help you reach your target audience.

You can also host events of your own. Often, brands will use events to promote the launch of a new product or to engage with a particular audience segment.

Q4 — Late Fall/Early Winter

6. Take Full Advantage of the Holiday Season

The winter is one of the most important seasons for a business with an effective seasonal marketing strategy. The holiday season — which starts as early as October, with Halloween — features some of the most significant holidays of the year, including Hanukkah, Christmas, Thanksgiving.

There are also a number of different shopping holidays during the season — like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Small Business Monday.

Holding an event on one of these holidays — like skincare brand The Ordinary’s 2020 boycott of Black Friday — will provide the opportunity to highlight deals or demonstrate certain brand values.

Small seasonal changes to your storefront, like gift wrapping options at checkout, can also make a massive difference at this time of year. 

7. Reflect and Review

As the year comes to a close and you near the end of the holiday rush, it’s a good time to start gathering marketing data from the past year. While you may not have time to reflect just yet, having this info in place will help you start to review the effectiveness of your marketing over the last 12 months.

It may even be a good idea to start planning next year’s campaigns before the holiday season, depending on how busy you’ll be, and how confident you are in your predictions about your audience’s interests and needs.

Key Considerations for Effective Marketing Year-Round

With the right strategy, you can plan to support your marketing efforts year round, no matter how the market changes or what new opportunities are available. 

Starting with a big-picture marketing plan, hosting events for market holidays and preparing for slow periods will help you keep your marketing strategy effective throughout the year.

The pandemic has changed the way people spend their time. Whether their hours were reduced or they simply have the time to start that company they always wanted, the U.S. Census reported new business ventures rose by almost 42% in 2020.  

A side hustle is the perfect way to start your own business. You don’t have to quit a job you like, give up security or lose benefits. Instead, you can work when you want and earn some extra cash.

How Do I Make an Extra $1,000 a Month or More?

Making $1,000 more a month isn’t too difficult with a bit of grit and determination. You’ll need to work or sell enough to make around $250 per week.  

There are many ways you can generate $1,000 a month, from setting up a flea market booth to getting involved in direct sales.

However, we’ve narrowed the options down to six popular side hustles that prove successful for most people.  

1. Deliver Food

A few years back, ridesharing was all the rage as a side hustle. While it still can be a good option if you live in a populated area, people are staying home more. Because of that, we advise looking at food delivery as a side hustle, since more folks want items delivered to their homes as they social distance. 

Even after the pandemic is over, people will have a taste for the convenience of food delivery. You can start your own company and advertise your services or tap into one of the apps already available, such as Instacart or GrubHub. You can deliver groceries or restaurant orders. 

One of the great advantages of working for another company is you can operate only when you have the time, setting your own schedule. Just make sure you have goals in mind for how much you need to work or earn each week.  

2. Home Inspection and Improvement

Are you pretty handy with a hammer? Maybe you are familiar with the common problems most homeowners experience. Starting a business as a home inspection specialist or a handyman is a great side hustle.  

According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), inspectors make around $29 per hour. Depending on the area, you may make more or less. For about three hours of work, you’ll earn $100 to $150. Setting up just a couple of home inspections a week gives you some nice pocket change.  

Those wanting to do some home repair work should check the rates in your area. You’ll need equipment. For example, a cargo van is the backbone of your part-time business. Having the tools and equipment may even turn your side hustle into a full-time gig.   

3. Tutoring

Are you skilled at math? Do you know how to diagram a sentence with the best English teachers out there? If you are adept at some school subject, offer your services as a tutor. You can also sign up to teach English as a second language (ESL) learners through sites such as VIPKids and gogoKids.  

You don’t have to use another platform to work as a tutor, though. Run an ad in your local paper explaining how much a tutoring session costs and your experience in the subject matter. 

There are a few things you should have in place before enlisting in this line of work. Have a background report on file showing you have no charges related to children. Get certification to teach ESL. Gather testimonials as you help different clients. Parents want to know you can actually help their child and that they can trust you to be around their offspring.  

4. Rent a Room

Do you have an extra room in your home? Perhaps you can turn a garage apartment into a mini paradise or add a small guest house to your property. Rental income is rather passive and allows you to gain equity on the property while earning money. It has one of the highest rates of return of any business. 

You can either do short-term or long-term agreements. If you plan to lease out a room in your home, you may want to stick with shorter leases. If you are located near a hospital, advertise to traveling nurses, for example.  

If you have a garage apartment or separate guest house, it might be better to sign a contract for six months or a year and not bother with the high turnover of revolving tenants. 

Do be aware that if you have a mortgage, you’ll have to notify your lien holder. You will need additional insurance, so touch base with your representative. As for taxes, how much you’ll pay depends on several factors.  

Investopedia mentions you’ll pay federal taxes based on your marginal tax rate, plus state and local fees. Be sure you understand all the costs involved before taking on this hustle. This is one of the best options when it comes to hours of investment versus return.

5. House Cleaning

Did you know that around 37% of Americans have a side hustle? While an ideal scenario would be one where people only must work 40 hours a week, that isn’t the reality for many. Finding something you enjoy that pays well is important if you are going to work a full-time job and have an extra gig on the weekends. 

House cleaning is something you can get into with very little money down. You will need some general liability and business insurance, however. Talk to your insurer about what you’d like to do and see what it has available. The rates for business insurance should be under $100 a month when just getting started. 

Expect to make around $30 an hour, but you’ll have to buy supplies and cleaning products out of that money. The rates may also vary, depending on the competition in your area.  

6. Online Trading

Online trading is a hustle that requires some knowledge of the financial market and an initial investment. You can start by investing a small amount of money, and slowly build up your portfolio as you gain experience and confidence in your abilities. There are many resources available online like The5ers that can help you learn about stock trading, cryptocurrency, forex trading, and other types of online investments. Once you have a solid understanding of the market, you can use your skills to make trades and earn a profit.

However, it’s important to note that online trading is not without risks. It requires careful planning, research, and constant monitoring of your investments. Make sure to educate yourself about risk management and never invest more than you can afford to lose. This side hustle has the potential to bring in significant profits, but it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Take your time to learn and develop your skills, and you may be able to turn this side hustle into a successful full-time job.

Choose What You Love

Realistically, the only thing you need to start your side hustle is a laptop, an idea, and an internet connection. If you’re still relying on public WiFi spots, use a comparison site to find your broadband deal today.

So, what things are you passionate about? If you find something you enjoy doing, your side hustle won’t even seem like work. It will be a hobby that brings in extra income and lets you take that amazing vacation or pay down some debt. Choose something you’ll enjoy, and you’ll be much more successful than if you hate what you do.