We are in unprecedented times right now (goodness me I miss precedented times!) and if you are running a small business, like a blog, Etsy business, eBay reselling business etc then you might be worrying about keeping your business afloat through the pandemic. I am going to share some ideas with you.
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Make sure of Government assistance
It isn’t often that we are offered something from the Government, is it?
From the furlough scheme where the Government will cover 80% of employee wages to the self-employed grant, there are some Government assistance programs that could help you out.
Of course they don’t cover everyone, and plenty of people are slipping through the cracks. However it is worth checking to see if there is assistance available for you.
Look for Grants
Aside from Government assistance, many places are offering grants to help through these tough times.
Your first port of call should be your local council website to see if there is anything available for you.
Even if you have only started your business recently there could still be grants for you.
Work on generating cash, fast!
When your blogging income, or any other income, takes a hit then you need to get creative!
This is also a great chance to get around to doing those projects you have always wanted to do! For example, I have launched new blogs, written a new ebook and up next I want to create an Etsy store.
If you need to generate income quickly then here are some ideas, both for your personal income and your business income:
- Sell items on eBay
- Cash in loose change around the house
- Sell my unwanted gift cards
- Chase unpaid invoices
- Sell advertising space
- Do more sponsored posts
- Run a sale on your product
- Build up a community, like Salesforce helps you to do.
Cut expenses
This is a great time to reassess your business spending!
In fact, I have identified some things that I have been able to cancel or downgrade to save a bit of money in the business.
You can look at the following expenses to cut back on or downgrade:
- Regular subscriptions
- Phone & Broadband package
- Website hosting
- Mailing list provider
Plus so many more! This really is an essential thing to do if you’re worrying about keeping your business afloat, because saving the pennies really does add up.
Another area you can save money is on your stock or supplies.
For example, Embroidered Patches are offering a great lockdown special – get an extra 50% of free patches on your order.
It is really simple – order over 80 identical personalised embroidered patches and they will give you an extra 50% on top of your order, for free! There is a maximum of 2,100 items on this offer.
They also have another couple of great offers!
100% of the sales of patches going to NHS charities as well as helping to provide vital medical equipment.
It is a great time to support a quality business during lockdown AND save some money!
Don’t panic
My final tip is to not panic about how COVID-19 is impacting your business.
Times are tough, any many small businesses across the world are feeling the impact.
If you’re getting worried about keeping your business afloat, then I hope this article has helped you. Try not to let the panic and stress get to you though, and take each day as it comes!
Remember, progress not perfection!
