Steps to Survive a Recession and Grow Your Business Even in a Bad Economy

With increasing debt levels, unstable economies, and falling oil rates, getting specific money-saving tips under your belt might be a lifesaver, allowing you to survive a slump if the worst happens. Unfortunately, we have no leverage over a recession; however, we do control how we react to and brace for one. Taking preventive measures to secure your finances will make a huge difference, so ensure you follow any – or all – of these precautions to recession-proof your finances before the next financial downturn.

If you’re not ready for the inevitable crisis, your small company will be unable to survive. As a small business owner, you must make dramatic improvements to your business to maximise cash-inflow or minimise cash-outflow, and that's the only way to ensure that you can escape an economic downturn.

Here are a few things a small business owner can note down and implement in a bad economy. Know how to survive the recession by:

1. Use the emergency funds.

If the economy begins to falter, wages will be compromised, which is why putting money together for an emergency fund is crucial when preparing for a crisis. If practicable, save 3 to 6 months’ worth of business earnings so you won’t rely on loans while the market is down and liquidity is scarce. Using credit as a safety net is a costly mistake that many small business owners regret for years. Emergency savings would provide you with a support system to help you ride out the storm and get back on your feet.

2. Reduce the amount of money you pay in rent per month.

To begin, try and negotiate a lower monthly payment with your business location’s owner. Make the case that lowering the rent would be beneficial for all. If the condition requires it, commit to a longer contract period in return for a cheaper rent if necessary. Your workplace’s landowner would like to have you at a cheaper rent than leave the place empty for months.

3. Look at lower-cost suppliers for all utilities.

Consider all of the services, such as water, electricity, broadband, or phone service. Check with vendors to see if they can get you better prices. Tell them you’re open to switching suppliers if they can get you a great deal. They would most likely have unadvertised offers for potential clients. What you need to do is request them to work out something optimal for you. If it works out, you can contact your existing suppliers and ask them to match the bid, so you don’t have to turn.

3. Reduce the stock that you have on hand.

It is advised not to lock up too much cash in inventory during a downturn. To learn how to manage the business during an economic downturn, follow these points:

• Hold more money in your account by stocking fewer units.
• If you’re thinking about your stock options, now might be a good time to get rid of the worst-performing items.
• Speak to the dealer and see if you can sell it back to them.

4. Lease, rather than buy.

Do you want a new machine or office furnishings? Rather than buying it, you should rent it. Mostly, you’ll spend more; however, it’s all about cash flow in a down economy. It won’t matter whether you paid very little for a table if you spend the entire sum upfront and your company runs out of cash in six months. When a recession is there, you won't have the luxury of doing everything the ‘right way. It may even be worth your time to look at other ways to arrange your supplies and logistics.

5. Make a strategy for the most important clients.

You’ve looked at your clients, services, and overall risk so far. The next move is to figure out how to grow the business with a strategy for keeping your clients. In this scheme, give high priority to clients who:

• Account for a significant portion of your sales
• Are well-positioned and thus impossible to terminate you

You’ll have to deal with all your clients separately and find out their major concerns and how to address them.

You should take the following business management tips:

• To lower their overall billings, they will cut low-return and low-priority work. So, reach above and beyond to demonstrate better work and a greater return on their investment.
• Renegotiate contracts to get some work at the bottom of the funnel (which is harder to cut off).

When it comes to retaining your top clients, there are few limitations to whatever you can do. Gaining a new client is five times more expensive than keeping a current one. So, your attention should be focused on ensuring that your loyal clients do not leave.

6. Reduce the number of hours before deducting salaries.

If you slash an employee’s pay by, say, 8% but expect them to work the same number of hours, they may protest the reduced hourly wage. So, you should also reduce their productivity goals by the same proportion or more. Cutting down hours is a safe option. You’ll save the same amount of money, and you’ll have a greater chance at keeping your employees at the same degree of effectiveness.

How to Grow a Small Business During a Recession?

Small companies face immense challenges when launching, managing, and sustaining their operations over time. During a recession, these problems become much more difficult. So, here are some steps on how to grow your business:

1. Look for cost-cutting strategies

Unmoved inventory or slow-selling goods increase as small companies expand. As a result, additional money is invested in stale goods. Examine the product spreadsheets to determine which products are sluggish or non-selling. They can be on sale until their stock is exhausted.

2. Regularly review your cash balance and profit and loss accounts

Look at ways to streamline whenever you can, such as easing up office equipment and travel costs. Close credit lines if necessary and pay cash instead.

3. Boost employee efficiency

Offering employee benefits, such as modest salaries or sales percentages, is a creative way to revitalise the workforce. Keep in mind that your staff is your company’s most valuable commodity.

4. Reduce the profit margin

When consumers invest in a downturn’s trends, it is essential to adjust to the pattern. Reduce rates to increase demand, but make sure you don’t lose money in the process. It is tough, but not hard, to keep a company in good shape through these trying times.

You can do 100 per cent more with these business growth tips than you’d have ever done without planning for a downturn.

Conclusion

Thus, creating a recession-proof company boils down to developing industry-leading skills, securing strong customers, and implementing improved software and business practices. Making tough choices and sensible reductions are essential to surviving and even succeeding in a recession. To save your most valuable clients, you must go beyond your current strategies and efforts. Simultaneously, you must realign your activities to make the best use of available capital.

It’s tough, but not impossible, to keep a company afloat in the current financial environment. Set ambitious expectations and expect to be in survival mode for at least two years. Cut deeper than you thought you wanted to, as going through this experience once more in six months would be much more painful without a plan.

Also read:

1) Best Tips for Customer Retention for a Small Business
2) Tips to Understand Your Market while Starting a Small Business
3) Tips for Businesses to Overcome the Covid Blues - Revival Tips for Businesses
4) What are the keys to success when operating a small scale business?
5) OkCredit: All you need to know about OkCredit & how it works.

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FAQs

Q. Which investment is the most secure during a recession?

Ans. Whenever the economy slows, there is no reason to ignore equity funds. Instead, choose funds and equities that pay dividends or engage in more stable consumer staples businesses. In terms of asset classes, funds that focus on large-cap companies are generally less risky than financial resources focused on small-cap companies.

Q. How can firms continue to survive during a recession?

Ans. 3 Recession-Resilient Strategies for Small Businesses

• Concentrate on fundamental capabilities
• Continue marketing
• Maintain a healthy financial flow

Here are a few possibilities:

• Reduce any unneeded expenditures
• Conduct an audit of your present expenditure
• Make arrangements for financial help
• Invest in your current consumers

Q. How do you handle your money in a recession?

Ans. Even when you're paying off debt, it's critical to set aside money for savings. Prioritise accumulating one-worth months of living costs in your emergency savings. Following that, pay off your debt and then work on developing a 3 to 6-month cash reserve.