There does seem to be some good news on the business horizon. According to the US Census Bureau’s Small Business Pulse Survey, as of March of this year, just over 20% of US businesses are reporting that they are nearly back to or resumed average operation levels.
Things have been difficult over the past two years, especially for smaller companies throughout the country. Supply chain issues, staffing shortages, and inflation have all taken their toll and have all posed significant problems for small businesses struggling to come out of the pandemic. And it wasn’t just the pandemic itself but the after-effects that plagued so many companies.
According to this latest report, we see some very positive news about smaller businesses’ ability to return to an average operations level.
Is Every Industry Heading Back Toward Normal Operations Level?
Some industries seem to be bouncing back a bit more quickly than others. For example, in the US construction industry, we see that supply chain issues and staffing issues are getting better and are thus allowing construction businesses to function somewhat normally.
Among the biggest problems in the food and beverage industry is still the lack of employees available to work. However, we are seeing upward trends in the number of hours worked by paid employees, at least as demonstrated during the period of this report.
A Gameplan for Getting Back to “Normal”
Experts are optimistic about what the immediate future holds for small businesses in this country. Hopefully, things will only get better from here. Below are some things you can do to help get your business back on track given this current climate.
1. Rethink how you work
Flexibility, for many companies, has become the name of the game. Whereas we all essentially went into remote work mode during the pandemic, it is increasingly difficult for some to revert to a strictly work-at-office mode. So many businesses have gone to a hybrid model, enabling employees to have a more flexible schedule.
2. Increase focus on employee retention
One of the more prominent movements to come out of the pandemic was the Great Resignation. This has impacted numerous businesses across the world. CEOs and business leaders must find new ways to entice employees to stay and ensure job satisfaction. From offering more creative benefits packages to making an effort to communicate even more with employees to revisiting issues of pay and salary, bosses have to rethink how they consequently treat employees.
3. Make sure you know Covid related policies
Even though we seem to be coming out of the pandemic, it doesn’t mean some of the policies in place are no longer valid. Understanding where your state and federal government stand regarding Covid related policies is imperative for every business. And especially when trying to return to the average operations level, you have to know what is required of you.
4. Enhance your online experience
Again, Covid taught us that to survive. Many businesses had to figure out a way to do so online or digital. If you were primarily a store that sold from a physical location, you have had to pivot. Constantly working on and fine-tuning this pivot will only enable you to survive and hopefully thrive.
Getting back to an average operations level is no easy task, not for any business, especially for any small business. It does take work. It does take patience and effort. The key is to stay true to your mission and who you are as a company as you continue to forge ahead.
First Union Wants to Help You Return to Normal Operations Level
Our goal has always been to enable small businesses throughout the US to thrive and ultimately succeed. We offer short-term loans, lines of credit, and merchant cash advances, among other financing types. Our solutions are custom-tailored for each client. And even if your credit score is less than ideal, we might still have a financing option for you. Call today and let’s get started.