Skip to Content

Is Your Business Still Recovering From COVID? Keep Going!

If you are one of the many businesses that took a major hit during the worst of the pandemic, you’re not alone. African American Grants is well aware that small businesses across the country continue to struggle to turn a profit. As the world seemingly returns to a new normal, it’s time for your business to do the same. Thinking about making changes to help you save money and keep your customers happy? Keep reading for a few tips on how to find your feet.

Business Basics

Even if you have years of experience as an entrepreneur, now is a great time to evaluate the decisions you’ve made as a business owner thus far. A good place to begin — particularly if you put your operation on hold during the pandemic — is to re-form as an LLC. An LLC structure limits your liability — meaning that you may not take a strong personal financial hit if issues arise once again. It’s also a fairly simple, inexpensive, and seamless process that you can do using an online formation service, which will guide you through your state’s rules. Make a point to look beyond LegalZoom to compare services to find the best match.

Once you get back up and running, marketing is the next area to do some house cleaning. Your marketing strategies will need to adapt to the world today. Take a look at your business and think about ways that you can make your brick-and-mortar location more welcoming in a post-pandemic world. This doesn’t mean you have to do a full remodel. However, make sure that your interior allows for social distancing, which the Advisory Board expects may last for years beyond the end of the pandemic. This way, you can showcase a brand-new feeling in your marketing materials.

It’s also a good idea to join your local chamber. Doing so provides access to networking opportunities, ribbon cuttings, and inclusion in the local member directory. You can also begin making plans to attend community events so that you can re-introduce your business to your friends and neighbors.

A New You

There are lots of inexpensive upgrades to make to your business operations that will enhance your customers’ experiences. One example here is a workflow software system. According to workflow solutions provider Integrify, there are many benefits for businesses. A workflow system will help you increase productivity while reducing paperwork. Further, having a central location where projects are stored lowers the risk of errors and can help you better identify “bottleneck” processes and tasks that clog up the pipeline.

You can also add to your online presence so that you reach the highest number of customers. If you’ve remodeled for social distancing, as in the example above, bring in a professional photographer and release images online, inviting patrons to stop in for a visit. Reopening after the pandemic is also a great opportunity to redefine your brand. This might include changing your logo and color scheme or refining your product/service offerings to better meet the needs of your most profitable customer demographic. You can also use your new photographs to update your website, which you might also re-design for a more streamlined user experience.

Of course, making significant changes can come with a high price tag, and this can feel overwhelming if you need additional funds to make adjustments. In this case, you have the option of applying for business grants or loans. To ensure a more favorable outcome, take the time to put your strategy together, outlining each step so you can provide a clear picture when you submit an application.

Getting your business up and running now might seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, as more and more people finally receive their second vaccine, our communities are beginning to re-emerge from the dark once again. This means new opportunities to engage and make your business a better place where your customers feel safe and secure. From increasing workflow and performance to simply clearing out clutter to allow for social distancing, every small step you take now will take you further away from the pandemic and back to business.

If you are one of the many businesses that took a major hit during the worst of the pandemic, you’re not alone. African American Grants is well aware that small businesses across the country continue to struggle to turn a profit. As the world seemingly returns to a new normal, it’s time for your business to do the same. Thinking about making changes to help you save money and keep your customers happy? Keep reading for a few tips on how to find your feet.

Business Basics

Even if you have years of experience as an entrepreneur, now is a great time to evaluate the decisions you’ve made as a business owner thus far. A good place to begin — particularly if you put your operation on hold during the pandemic — is to re-form as an LLC. An LLC structure limits your liability — meaning that you may not take a strong personal financial hit if issues arise once again. It’s also a fairly simple, inexpensive, and seamless process that you can do using an online formation service, which will guide you through your state’s rules. Make a point to look beyond LegalZoom to compare services to find the best match.

Once you get back up and running, marketing is the next area to do some house cleaning. Your marketing strategies will need to adapt to the world today. Take a look at your business and think about ways that you can make your brick-and-mortar location more welcoming in a post-pandemic world. This doesn’t mean you have to do a full remodel. However, make sure that your interior allows for social distancing, which the Advisory Board expects may last for years beyond the end of the pandemic. This way, you can showcase a brand-new feeling in your marketing materials.

It’s also a good idea to join your local chamber. Doing so provides access to networking opportunities, ribbon cuttings, and inclusion in the local member directory. You can also begin making plans to attend community events so that you can re-introduce your business to your friends and neighbors.

A New You

There are lots of inexpensive upgrades to make to your business operations that will enhance your customers’ experiences. One example here is a workflow software system. According to workflow solutions provider Integrify, there are many benefits for businesses. A workflow system will help you increase productivity while reducing paperwork. Further, having a central location where projects are stored lowers the risk of errors and can help you better identify “bottleneck” processes and tasks that clog up the pipeline.

You can also add to your online presence so that you reach the highest number of customers. If you’ve remodeled for social distancing, as in the example above, bring in a professional photographer and release images online, inviting patrons to stop in for a visit. Reopening after the pandemic is also a great opportunity to redefine your brand. This might include changing your logo and color scheme or refining your product/service offerings to better meet the needs of your most profitable customer demographic. You can also use your new photographs to update your website, which you might also re-design for a more streamlined user experience.

Of course, making significant changes can come with a high price tag, and this can feel overwhelming if you need additional funds to make adjustments. In this case, you have the option of applying for business grants or loans. To ensure a more favorable outcome, take the time to put your strategy together, outlining each step so you can provide a clear picture when you submit an application.

Getting your business up and running now might seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, as more and more people finally receive their second vaccine, our communities are beginning to re-emerge from the dark once again. This means new opportunities to engage and make your business a better place where your customers feel safe and secure. From increasing workflow and performance to simply clearing out clutter to allow for social distancing, every small step you take now will take you further away from the pandemic and back to business.