5 simple small business goals you can start today

Did you make New Year’s resolutions for your business that you haven’t stuck to? Great news – the year isn’t over! With the summer season giving us longer days and businesses slowing down (depending on the industry you work in), now’s the perfect time to reevaluate your business goals and figure out what you’d like to achieve in the coming months and next year. Whether it’s goals for growing or goals for protecting your small business, we’ve got you covered. To give you some business goal ideas, we’ve compiled some of our most insightful blog posts about growing and protecting your business. Here are 5 simple small business goals that you can get started on today!

1. Create an emergency contact list for your business

Being a small business owner means juggling many responsibilities. One of those responsibilities arises when you need to handle an emergency. Knowing who to contact can help you effectively manage a stressful scenario. Creating an emergency contact list is a fairly straightforward task, but it can be vital for managing these stressful scenarios. Take a look at whose contact information we recommend you include on that list:

• Your business
• Your facility manager
• Your employees
• Emergency services
• Utility companies
• Taxi services
• Locksmith services
• Your insurance provider

To help you get a jumpstart on creating an emergency contact list for your business, download our free emergency contact list template.

2. Build an all-star loss control program for your business.

No matter how you look at it, building out a loss control program is an important investment for your business. A great way to assess your loss control needs is to think of your business like a hockey team. Last year, we shared some tips on how Canada’s favorite pastime can help you create an all-star loss control program. Here’s a quick overview of some strategies you can implement today:

• Teach your staff how to use new equipment to improve efficiency and safety.
• Install monitored burglar alarms and sprinkler systems to protect your assets.
• Develop employee safety manuals, policies, and guidelines to build a culture of safety.
• Make safety training mandatory to actively promote this culture of safety.
• Empower employees to actively reduce, control, and eliminate workplace hazards.

3. Set up the right video surveillance system for your business.

Speaking of loss control, there are many options available when it comes to protecting your property. A video surveillance system can play a big role, since it provides you with evidence that can help you and the police catch criminals on your property. These seven tips will help you set up the right video surveillance system for protecting your business. Check out this free infographic and take a look at these quick tips:

1. Scout your location. A simple map of your property will help define where cameras should be mounted and aimed.
2. Certain camera angles are effective in certain situations. Cover as many angles as possible.
3. There’s a camera for every occasion! Each type of camera is designed for a specific task. Determine which camera is best for your business.
4. Choosing between CCTV and IP can be tough. Determine what your business is able to manage.
5. Record and store your footage. It’s tempting to delete these scenes, but they can be used to identify accomplices and help prevent future crimes.
6. Make sure you have proper lighting. Proper lighting helps to ensure thieves can’t hide in the shadows.
7. Protect your footage. You should have company policies to track how long videos are stored, who’s viewing the videos, and how your videos are being secured. If you’re concerned about privacy issues, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada provides information on surveillance and monitoring.

4. Use outside-the-box resources to learn how to grow your business.

The previous resources are great examples of useful tools specifically geared towards entrepreneurs and small business owners. But what about resources that are a bit more obscure? Last year we gave you a one-two punch, compiling two outside-the-box resources that you can use to learn more about growing your business. Check out a quick breakdown of them below:

• Reddit is “the front page of the internet”, where top stories from around the world are aggregated. It’s also where millions of people create online communities, called subreddits, to discuss and share ideas on a variety of topics. Reddit is a powerful network that you can leverage to learn more about entrepreneurship, develop more skills, discover new markets, and grow your business overall.
• Podcasts can be a goldmine for valuable insights and inspiring stories that can help you take your business to the next level. Popular podcasts such as NPR’s How I Built This go behind the scenes of some of the world’s most well-known companies. Lesser-known podcasts such as Entrepreneurs on Fire provide quick tips and tricks on how to survive the small business ecosystem and be a more effective entrepreneur.

5. Launch a wellness program for your employees.

With the arrival of a new year, one of your biggest focuses might be to improve your health and wellness through exercise and a healthy diet. But what about the wellness of your employees? Last year, we wrote about making wellness programs a part of your small business. A wellness program can help you build a workplace culture that emphasizes health, fitness, and employee well-being. It can also help out your bottom line –here’s how:

• Happy, healthy, and fit employees lead to increased productivity at work.
• Wellness programs can help reduce stress while improving mental and physical health.
• Having a wellness program in place can help small businesses reduce healthcare costs.
• An established wellness program can build a healthier workforce where employees bounce back faster when they get sick. Fewer sick days equals higher productivity.
• Focusing on health and wellness can not only be used as a recruiting tool, but it may also help businesses retain their talent.

Finish 2019 with a bang

With these simple small business goals for 2019, you can take effective steps to grow your business, manage your risks, and protect your bottom line. However, no matter what kind of small business you’re running, you’ll need insurance to protect it against all kinds of risk. TruShield offers comprehensive small business insurance coverage for many kinds of businesses, including retailers, consultants, and contractors. Our insurance policies can help shield you from property damage, costly lawsuits, and more. The TruShield Blog also has the latest and greatest information you need to stay on track. Don’t forget to subscribe!

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This blog is provided for information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information and will not be responsible for any loss arising out of reliance on the information. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply to coverage. See policy for details.