So it has finally come to this. You have no choice but to close your business and wait out the COVID-19 crisis. All is not lost, this is just temporary.

Shutting down a business temporarily is a process. You need to make sure you do it the right way so that when things get better you can bounce right back.

Administration and Human Capital

1 Inform Your Workers of Leave Policy

Review your payment and leave policies for consistency with public health guidance and compliance with the legal requirements around the quarantine. Explain these policies to your workers and inform them of the payments and benefits that they should expect. Communication is very important; these are hard times for all of us.

2 Check for Business Interruption Clause in Your Insurance Contract

Does your insurance include a business interruption clause in it? Not sure? Knowing insurance companies, they are not going to call you. It’s up to you to find out. Right now, anything you can get to cover losses suffered is welcome.

3 Seek Waivers and Rent Abatement

Again, communication is very vital. Don’t just get up and leave. Avoid conflict and talk to your landlord. Request a waiver of these lease provisions or rent abatement officially. As the saying goes, ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’.

4 Talk to Your Suppliers

Most supplier contracts include the so-called “force majeure” that can relieve either party of performance of the contract for unforeseeable circumstances and the COVID-19 pandemic definitely qualifies for that.

5 I Know I’ve Said this But Please Communicate

You and everyone around your business are not only worried about what’s going to happen financially but also are worried about their lives, health, and the well-being of their loved ones. Don’t make promises you can’t keep but also don’t keep anyone guessing. Make your plans clear.

Your Physical Place of Business

6 Inspect Everything Before You Close

Inspect your sales floor thoroughly including your service area and cash register. Storage, the toilet, etc. You do not want to come back to realize that the little leakage that you never noticed has turned your business place into a water reservoir. Water damage can be devastating.

7 Do a Deep Clean

Do some serious cleaning before you close. Think about it; you want to come back to a fresh start. Reduce the chance of spending the first day of your comeback cleaning instead of making money.

8 Be Ready to Open Tomorrow

Set your sales floor as though you could reopen the next day. You may not know when you will be back but those who are prepared will be in a better position to bounce back faster.

9 Give Special Attention to Your Store Room

You must reorganize your storage room so it is neat and workable during your grand reopening:

• fill in shelves, 
• set new end features, 
• add new signing, and 
• update your speed bump displays 

Yes sir, when you reopen your store is ready to fly off the blocks.

10 Don’t Forget to Turn off the Lights

Turn off all electronics that will not be used while you are closed. Here are some common electronics you need to consider:

• computers, 
• cash registers, 
• Radios,
•  Televisions,
• electronic vendor displays,

11 Keep it Safe 

Test your security alarm, fire alarm, and sprinkler system. Notify your security contractor that you are shutting down, so they are sure there is no chance of false alarm. If it is triggered it is probably not you.

12 Adjust the Temperature

Adjust your business place’s thermostat to a safe level. Make sure the temperature is just right to prevent freezing, mold, and to protect sensitive merchandise.

13 Be Smart with Your Door Sign

A sign that just says ‘closed’ is not as impactful as a well-thought-of note that briefly explains that you are closing due to the COVID-19 threat but will be back to serve them again soon when it is all-over. The latter creates an emotional bond.

Prepare to Make Up for Lost Time

14 Talk to Us and Prepare to Roll Back Smoothly

This whole article has been about bouncing back quickly when the all-clear is given. We sincerely want to help your small business. Our free advertising campaign offer for small businesses targeting Muslim audiences is still open.

Advertising may feel out of place right now, so you don’t have to commit. You can talk to us at Muslim Ad Network and we will get back to you when you are ready and here is why you should; when all is well again:

• You will need to attract as many customers as  soon as possible
• People will be looking for offers and you need to reach them easily
• The online shopping trend will continue due to newly discovered convenience and you don’t want to miss out
• People will be excited to be able to go out again and your restaurant, shop, or hair salon will be a good excuse for them to do so, but they need to see you when they are browsing the internet

The post 14 Tips When Shutting Down Your Business Due to the COVID-19 Crisis for a Quick Bounce Back appeared first on Muslim Ad Network.

Here at Muslim Ad Network, we care about you and your business. We are still offering free online advertising to help your business cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

I figured we are now in a situation where you, my dear reader, are not interested in some generic, actionable blog post. If we are to offer you content it should be practical to what you are going through.

Just remember, if you are healthy and well while reading this article, be grateful to The Almighty as your health is more important than any business you may own.

The title of this article is ‘Your Business After the COVID-19 Pandemic’ because I want you to focus on the future. After every hardship comes ease but there are phases in between and for your business, they look as follows:

Phase 1 Confusion and Anguish

This stage has passed already. It was at the time when you heard that COVID-19 was on its way and you did not know how to distinguish the truth from myth. The President/Prime Minister was playing things down while scientists were warning of the impending doom. The ever-changing counter-measures left you unsure of whether it was safe to keep your business running or if you needed to shut it down.

Phase 2 Acceptance & Adaption

At the time of writing this blog, we are in this phase. Almost everybody is working from home. Some businesses have made changes to their strategies. You might be that restaurant that now only serves takeaways instead of on-location. Or you might be the beauty salon owner that has decided to sell hair products online until the crisis goes away. Whatever you are doing, you are coping the best you can and the future can only be better than what it is now God willingly.

Phase 3 Preparing for a Bright Future

You can’t wait to get back to your normal life. Ow, wow, all those things you took for granted. You are itching to go. But hold on just a bit more, patience is a virtue. If you are still well and healthy, the time will come. However, you need to start preparing now. What is your game plan for when all of this is over? Have you learned anything from working from home, running your business differently than you would usually do, the compassion and utmost attention that you now show your customers? The list goes on and on. There are lessons from which you could come out of this shining on the other side as a human and as a business person.

Phase 4 When it’s All Over

You have taken the lessons you have learned, you are licking your wounds, and you are ready to take a breath of fresh air and get your business running again. After three months you are back to your old habits? Of course not. You have put your ideas, the lessons learned and inspiration down in your enhanced business plan or action plan and you are going to make sure you adhere to it. Because now your business is more than just a business. It is about community, it is about humanity facing adversity and coming together again to build our communities and offer our customers the best of who we are as people and as business owners.

Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector).” And in Allah let the believers put their trust.

Quran 9:51
If you feel that free online advertising can help your business go past the four phases, contact us by filling in the form here: https://update.muslimadnetwork.com/small-business-signup/

The post Your Business After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Going Through The 4 Phases appeared first on Muslim Ad Network.

With all the uncertainty and disruptions to day-to-day life in the current climate due to the outbreak of COVID-19, it’s a difficult time for everyone. We at Muslim Ad Network understand it must be especially difficult for small business owners, many whose livelihood is now in jeopardy.  Due to the coronavirus cities and countries across the globe have shut down restaurants and businesses completely, or enforced regulations that limit patrons from visiting their businesses. 

Muslim Ad Network knows that small businesses are an integral part of our community, and we’d like to do our part to help the community. Subsequently, we are offering small business owners $25,000 worth of free advertising credit to use towards advertising their business to local Muslims in their community.  This initiative will enable 100 small businesses to get 2 months of free advertising. Using the world’s largest Muslim advertising platform, MAN will advertise one hundred small businesses to thousands of local Muslims on hundreds of websites and apps.  This will give small business owners extra support and a boost to get more business during the next few weeks. We hope that this will help business owners weather the storm during these uncertain times. 

Who’s Eligible?

• The first 100 small businesses that contact us through https://update.muslimadnetwork.com/small-business-signup/
• The business must target Muslims  and/or not be in conflict with Muslim values
• The business should have mostly Muslim customers/target audience as this is who we will target. 
• Must be a brick-and-mortar business with a local clientele (not online)
• Small businesses in the US, Canada, UK only
• The first 100 small businesses will get 2 months of free advertising to potential customers in their local area at no cost, then afterwards will have the option to continue at just $97/month

Next Steps?

• Contact us by filling in the form here: https://update.muslimadnetwork.com/small-business-signup/
• A representative from Muslim Ad Network will reply within the next 2-3 business days

The post Muslim Ad Network Offering $25,000 in Free Advertising for Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus appeared first on Muslim Ad Network.