Small Business Startup News
Swine Flu Threat Can Help SMBs Prepare For The Worst
Written by James Conroy
Published: 5/4/2009
Most small businesses don't have an emergency plan in place, but with the H1N1 virus threat now may be a good time to prepare one.
Many people around the country have been concerned with the growing risk of the H1N1 virus -better known as swine flu - but one expert says the threat actually gives small businesses a good time to reflect.
Chris Falkenberg, a former Secret Service agent and the president of Insite Security, says the pandemic gives SMBs the perfect opportunity to make sure they have an emergency plan in place.
Falkenberg told BusinessWeek that even if the threat of the H1N1 virus turns out to be nothing more than media hype, the good news for entrepreneurs is that getting a plan in place can be beneficial for the future of the business.
"Start thinking about what you would do if people can't come to work because they're ill," he told the magazine. "What if they're unwilling to travel for business? Unwilling to sit in an office with others? There are work-flow changes when employees work from home. You need to make sure people can communicate if they decide to work at home."
The U.S. Small Business Administration seems to agree with Falkenberg. On its site the SBA suggests that SMBs prepare for disaster and gives business owners a guide in how to be ready for the worst case scenario.
Share this article
About Our Entrepreneur News Feeds
Gaebler.com journalists write new news articles for entrepreneurs five days a week. Our entrepreneur news articles review trends in business management, analyze the impact of new government policies, present relevant entrepreneurial research findings, and cover many other topics of interest to small business owners.
Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs