• Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Login  | Call now: (800) 780-7133
Kapitus
  • Problems We Solve
  • Products We Offer
  • Partner With Us
  • Blog
  • APPLY NOW
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
four-risks-that-keep-business-owners-up-at-night

Four Risks That Keep Business Owners Up at Night. And Your Defense Against Them.

March 13, 2019/in Business Loans, Operations/by Bernadette Abel
Events like natural disasters, disruptions to your supply chain, legal issues, a cyber attack, or changing market trends aren’t entirely within your control. But, you can help mitigate the damage they might bring to your business with a proactive and strategic risk management plan.

Here are four common risks to your business.  Along with some simple ways to help manage how exposed your business is to each.

Risk: Business Interruption

Would you be able to financially survive the process of rebuilding your business if damage deemed it inoperable for months? Even with insurance coverage to protect against events like floods, fires or earthquakes, FEMA reports that about 40% of businesses disrupted by natural disasters are forced to close permanently.

Your Defense: Business Interruption Insurance

Business interruption coverage replaces business income lost if you’re forced to cease operations.  This insurance can be used whether the interruption is due to a natural disaster, cyber attacks, or a massive disruption to your supply chain. Often added as a rider to a commercial insurance policy, the Insurance Information Institute says business interruption coverage may pay for a business’ fixed expenses, financial obligations to creditors, and expenses associated with establishing a temporary business location.

While access to such funds could be the difference between rebuilding your business post-disaster or closing it permanently, the Insurance Journal reports 66% of small businesses do not have business interruption coverage.

Risk: Loss of Intellectual Property

Your business’ intellectual property (IP) includes your business’ name, logo, products and services, taglines and any inventions you’ve created. Experts at Deloitte estimate intellectual property accounts for more than 80% of a business’ value.

If you have not formally claimed ownership of your intellectual property with patents and/or trademarks, do it ASAP.  Or, a competitor might (legally) steal your business name, inventions, likeness and ideas.

Your Defense: Secure Legal Ownership of IP

Make a list of all the elements that make up your business’ goods, services and brand identity and formally claim ownership of them with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. For a few a hundred dollars, you can file an online trademark application to secure ownership of brand assets. Securing a patent for an invention is a more intensive (and expensive) process.  But it’s critical if your business is based on a unique product, technology or solution that you’ve created.

If you hire freelancers or contractors to produce marketing materials, designs, or code for your business products, secure a signed work-made-for-hire agreement before projects begin. Unlike a full-time employee, you do not own contractor creations. A work-made-for-hire agreement should detail the scope of work and deliverables.  It should also state that you own the finished product a contractor creates.

Risk: Cyberattacks

Cyber criminals have their sights set on a target: 58% of breach victims in the past year were small businesses, according to the Verizon 2018 Data Breach Investigations Report.

Your Defense: An Internal Cybersecurity Action Plan

Protecting your business begins with identifying your business’ most important assets and systems. Because these “digital crown jewels” are most likely to be the target of any cyber attack on your business, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) says they should be the focus of your security efforts. Once you’ve identified them, the NCSA suggests creating a list of all the hardware and software your business uses.  This list should include the makes, models, serial numbers, and versions of software you are running.  You should also include on this list where you store your data. Use the latest version of security software, web browsers and operating systems.  Using the most updated versions will help protect against viruses, malware, and similar threats.  They can also activate automatic update features to keep you secure.

Perhaps most importantly, educate employees.  Train them on best practices for handling sensitive data.  And set clear parameters for how they are to use mobile devices and computers to do their jobs. Many cyber attacks originate from basic human error.  Clicking on an email attachment or downloading an app on an unsecured mobile device can make you vulnerable.  Using weak passwords also provides an easy in for hackers. Because they have dictionary-based systems that make it easy to crack passwords that include a word or name, cyber security company Symantec suggestspasswords be misspelled, “As much as possible, or insert numbers for letters. For example, if you want to use the phrase ‘I love chocolate’ you can change it to @1L0v3CH0c0L4t3!”

Risk: Cash Flow Problems

You can’t control your sales or the competitive environment.  But, you can manage their impact on your cash flow by ensuring you have access to cash before you need it.

Your Defense: Plan for Cash Flow Shortages Before They Happen

Retained earnings are like a business emergency savings fund, and they empower you to prepare for cash flow challenges. When these funds are readily available, you aren’t forced to borrow money, or default on your own business obligations. In addition to building your retained earnings, establish relationships with a few reputable funding partners so you know you have the financial support you need to maintain cash flow if sales decline unexpectedly. Risk is an inherent aspect of owning a business.  But, that doesn’t mean you have to be vulnerable to uncontrollable circumstances. Use these tips to help ensure your business is equipped to survive, despite any disaster that may strike

https://kapitus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-risks-that-keep-business-owners-up-at-night.jpg 1514 2200 Bernadette Abel https://kapitus.com/wp-content/uploads/Kapitus_Logo_white-2-300x81-1-e1615929624763.png Bernadette Abel2019-03-13 07:45:202022-05-11 20:52:37Four Risks That Keep Business Owners Up at Night. And Your Defense Against Them.

LATEST FROM KAPITUS

  • Obtaining a Surety Bond to Land a Federal Contract
  • Small Businesses Give Their 2023 Predictions
  • Building Effective Freelance Relationships
  • BRB Stories: Cafe de Stir It Up and the Fight for Dietary Freedom
  • BRB Stories: Empowering a New Generation of Swimmers and Thinkers

Subscribe To Our Blog For More Tips On How To Grow Your Business

Categories

  • Accounting & Taxes
  • Alternative Financing
  • Business Expansion
  • Business Loans
  • Business Productivity
  • Business Productivity
  • Business Software & Cybersecurity
  • Cash Flow Management
  • Claim Your Corner of the Internet
  • Company News
  • Featured Stories
  • Financing
  • Human Resources
  • Industry Center
  • Leadership
  • Legal
  • Living Your Best SBO Life
  • Making Her Mark – Influential Women Business Owners
  • Monthly Must Reads
  • News
  • Operations
  • Personal
  • Raising Capital
  • Recruitment
  • Risk Management
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Tax Center
  • Tax Legislation
  • Technology
  • Technology Center
  • Uncategorized

About Us

  • Media Center
  • Team
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Success Stories
  • The Kapitus Difference
  • Developer Documentation
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Products

  • Revenue Based Financing
  • Helix® Healthcare Financing
  • Business Loans
  • SBA Loans
  • Line of Credit
  • Invoice Factoring
  • Equipment Financing
  • Purchase Order Financing
  • Concierge Services
  • Resource Center

Contact Us

  • (800) 780-7133
  • Email Us

Signup For Our Newsletter

Copyright 2023 Strategic Funding Source, Inc. All rights reserved. Kapitus and the Kapitus logo are registered trademarks of Strategic Funding Source, Inc.
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Scroll to top
  • Whether you want to learn more about our financing options, are interested in becoming a partner or just have a general question, we’re here to help! Simply fill out the form below and we’ll get it directly into the inbox of the right person.

Step 1 of 4 - Tell us about you

25%
  • Sign up for the Kapitus Partner Program!

  • Sign up for the Kapitus Partner Program!

  • Sign up for the Kapitus Partner Program!

  • Sign up for the Kapitus Partner Program!

Step 1 of 10 - TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRIMARY FINANCING NEED

10%
  • Find the right financing product for you.

    Answer a few questions and we’ll match you with the best product based on your needs and current situations.

  • 1. Answer a few questions. You let us know some basic information about your financing needs, so we can find a match.
    2. See your financing matches. You'll get matched with up to four financing options based on your answers.
    3. Apply for financing. You can apply for all of your financing options by completing one simple application and providing a few documents.
    4. Get an Advisor: You have the option to be assigned a financing specialist to help guide you through the application process.
    If you are looking to determine the best financing option for you, our matching tool streamlines the process and arms you with information that you can use before you apply. To match you with your best options, we ask you to answer a series of basic questions about your existing and future needs, current financial health, and your financing preferences – including amount to be financed, ideal terms and financing urgency. Our system then finds you up to four financing options to fit your needs. Once you’re matched, you can expect to be contacted by one of our financing specialists to help you navigate the application and selection processes.
  • Find your financing match


  • Each financing product has its own minimum and maximum requirements around the amount of money that can be acquired through that option.
  • Find your financing match



    • Business Accountants
    • Marketing & PR Agencies
    • Commercial Cleaning Companies
    • Printers
    • Human Resource & Payroll Firms
    • Office Supplies Organizations
    • Salons/Spas
    • Gyms & Other Workout Studios
    • Pet Services Companies
    • Personal Accountants
    • Home Cleaning Companies
    • Residential Landscaping
  • There are financing options created to meet the specific needs of particular industries.
  • Find your financing match

  • Thank you for reaching out to Kapitus. Unfortunately, our financing products are only available for existing businesses and we will not be able to help you at this time.


  • The amount of time your business has been in operation is a deciding factor in the type of financing options available to you.
  • Find your financing match


  • Each financing product has its own minimum requirement for the amount of revenue being brought into a business on either a monthly or an annual basis. In addition, your monthly and/or annual revenue can dictate the length and term on your financing option.
  • Find your financing match


  • Each financing product offers different payback lengths and terms.
  • Find your financing match


  • Each financing product has different paperwork and underwriting processes. As a result, the amount of time it takes to get approved for one type of financing over another can vary significantly.
  • Find your financing match

  • Find your financing match


  • There are financing options for every credit type, however your personal credit score will determine your eligibility for each financing type.
  • We’re finding your match