How Small Business Owners Can Sustain Throughout COVID-19

If you are a small business owner, you've undoubtedly felt the impact of COVID-19, especially if your services are considered "non-essential."

Tourism was shut down for months, for example, while industries like child care likewise saw a downturn. According to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, only 10% of parents relied on child care centers while working from home. In some states, child care was shut completely. Despite such setbacks, there are ways to maintain your business in these tough times.

Use the downtime to grow your online community

With business slow or on pause, you have extra time on your hands. Use it wisely. If you don't yet have a business website, make one now. ThemeIsle explains that a business website allows you to showcase your products or services, attracting new clients. You can create a website easily yourself using a template-based builder like Wix.

You can also grow your digital presence through social media. Buffer says that social media can promote small business growth, allowing you to engage with your customers. You can also use social media to get industry news. For example, if you're a New Jersey child care provider, you might follow Early Childhood Education Advocates, Inc. on Facebook.

Seize the opportunity to take care of lingering administrative tasks

You can also use your additional free time to take care of admin to-do items that may be hanging over your head. If you have a small business and haven't yet established it as a formal entity, now is a great time to do this. You can quickly create a limited liability company, LLC, using business formation services like ZenBusiness.

You can further seize this opportunity to reassess your daily operations. Are there ways to streamline your business? Tweak Your Biz offers tips on how to make your operations more efficient, such as automating recurring tasks and reducing paper in favor of digital storage. These solutions don't have to be expensive.

Look for ways to take your business online

As vaccines are rolled out and the world prepares for the "new normal," you might think your business can resume as was. However, this is a good time to pivot and move more of your operations online. Big Commerce asserts that the implications of COVID-19will last well into the decade. Online shopping will likely remain the norm, for instance.

Think about ways that you can take your services online, at least partially. For example, if you offer child care, you might consider adding online tutoring to your repertoire. Expanding your offering allows you to reach new audiences, which can serve you well even after COVID-19. Care.com has a guide on how to start a tutoring business.

COVID-19 will inevitably change your business. However, those changes don't have to be negative. Follow the tips above and seize this opportunity to evolve for the better.

ECEA provides New Jersey child care providers with the information they need to make it through COVID-19. We advocate for carers and provide up-to-date news on the latest public health recommendations for childcare. Join to get full access to our resources.

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