Reopening Your Small Business – The Importance of a Good Plan and a Good Partner

There is no telling when COVID-19 will recede for good, and there’s a very high chance that a second wave will occur, setting us all back significantly. But regardless of when the pandemic finally ends, the world is going to be a very different place, and some of the habits we’ve learned during these troubling times – like using contactless payments instead of cash – are almost certainly here to stay for good in any small business.

That means that getting “back to normal” means more than just opening your doors. It also means taking stock of the lessons learned during the pandemic to ensure you’re giving your customers the options and service they want, and that your business will have the procedures and infrastructure in place to be better prepared the next time a major crisis like COVID-19 occurs. 

What You Need to Include in Your Reopening Plan

Putting together a formal reopening plan is a great way to ensure you’ve analyzed the small details and taken stock of the lessons offered by this pandemic before getting back to work. But most business owners don’t plan for closing down in the first place, so the idea of a reopening plan is totally alien to them. The following are a few of the key areas you should analyze and layout in your plan to ensure your grand reopening goes off without a hitch. 

In-Store Payment Methods:

Were you previously a cash-heavy business? That’s not likely to fly upon reopening. If you haven’t already, now is the time to get set up with modern payment terminals. If you’re already accepting card payments but haven’t yet gone contactless, it’s highly recommended that you include upgrades in your plan. Contactless payment allows customers to pay with a single tap – no need to type in a pin or make any contact with hardware at all. Contactless payment means the future, and now is unquestionably the time to embrace it. 

Supply Chain Disruptions:

Reopening the doors is exciting for everyone, but getting back to business-as-usual takes time – including for your suppliers. You should plan on ongoing supply chain disruptions well after your state begins to lift restrictions. Your suppliers will be struggling with everything from reestablishing their workforces, to re-engaging logistic resources, and beyond. Determine early on what types of inventory you can’t afford to get low on, and plan to engage alternate suppliers if necessary.

Your Store Itself:

If you’re a brick and mortar retailer, you need to consider what adjustments need to be made to your storefront in order to comply with ongoing restrictions and new regulations, as well as to safeguard the health of your valued customers. Just because you’re reopening doesn’t mean the risk posed by the virus has ceased to exist, so ask yourself questions like:

• Does the size of my store mean I need to limit the number of people inside at any given time?
• Do I have the necessary personal protective equipment on hand for my employees to ensure their safety?
• Does my store require any kind of adjustment to ensure adequate space for customers to observe social distancing guidelines while they shop?

How BAMS Can Help You Make the Transition

Reopening is a big deal, especially for small businesses whose owner-operators have been feeling significant financial and personal pain while closed. But it’s important that you get your reopening right, and one of the best ways to do that is to engage help from your trusted partners. BAMS is offering exactly that kind of help to our merchants to ensure their successful transition back to normal operations, and we’d love to help you as well. Not only can BAMS get you set up with modern, contactless payment terminals to ensure your customers can pay with peace of mind, our business managers are also on hand to review your reopening model to identify any other area in which we can help you transition to safer, more convenient digital payment solutions. 

For more information on how BAMS can help your business make the most of your reopening, get in touch with a member of our team today.