By: LeAnn and Kate Small business owners- fear not if you have these common concerns – you're not alone. We wanted to provide some resources and address some common SMB concerns. As the US has begun to re-open business in phases, non-uniformity among the regions is adding a layer of complexity to their challenges. Some states need to go so far as to pause reopening during what could be considered a second wave of the pandemic (according to HuffPost). That being said, it’s important new businesses, and companies re-opening their doors, all account for their individual state guidelines as they tackle other common challenges: How can I keep my employees & their families safe? As walk-in traffic increases without a vaccine yet available, many small business employees are concerned about endangering themselves, or their families, with increased exposure. For all businesses, it is recommended to put in place a “COVID-19 business cleanliness plan” in terms of workplace sanitation. It is incumbent upon businesses, throughout each stage of re-opening, to clearly communicate and enforce new safety standards. The CDC has created some helpful free training videos on PPE here , as well as a guide for small business preparation here . Another good resource was released by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) found here . How can I offset possible lower revenue opportunity? Although people are returning to stores and events, they are doing so in smaller numbers which will inevitably impact sales. Small business owners are having trouble making up for lost revenue from earlier months. Once a business has assessed it’s financial state of affairs, they can consider federal and state financial aid resources like disaster assistance loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration application found here, as well as the employee retention tax credit via CARES Act info here . How can I get support with SMB Document retrieval? Small businesses looking for tax, loan, and other business documents are in need of resources to assist during this time. If a small business is facing an urgent need for cash while they wait for decisioning around the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they could qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan. SBA Bridge Loans info here . Loan forgiveness / PPE loan info here . Feel free to reach out to sales@worldwideinc.com for assistance in obtaining supporting documents you may need. Where can I get updates on the new & changing guidelines? With each state beholden to a different phase of re-opening regulations, and on a different schedule, it makes it hard for businesses to plan ahead and forecast revenue. Business leaders are deliberating over which company policies need to be updated as employees return to work. Individual state government websites are typically up to date with the latest coronavirus-related guidance and regulations referenced via usa.gov here , as well as the IRS’s resource page here . The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also provided an updated state-by-state outline here . It’s evident that re-opening business doors will be a gradual process, one riddled with re-adjustments. We’re proud to be here to support our clients as they evolve in the post-coronavirus pandemic. References: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/coronavirus-employee-retention-tax-credit-guide https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/small-business-coronavirus-reopening-guide https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares