Is your business ready for summer?

The summer months bring increased risk of heatwaves and bushfires.

This sort of extreme weather can affect businesses from across a range of industries. Make sure you have plans in place to understand your obligations in the event of an emergency.

There are things you can do now to make sure you’re prepared, such as:

• developing an emergency management plan 
• checking your fire alarm systems, fire sprinklers and fire equipment
• running through your evacuation procedure and displaying it where everyone can see it
• creating an emergency kit and first-aid kit
• planning for power outages
• updating your insurance policies
• checking you have the right personal protective equipment (PPE) and uniforms for working in extreme heat
• updating your list of emergency and employee contact numbers
• storing your important documents securely and having backup copies stored off-site
• identifying, assessing and controlling risks that come with extreme weather conditions
• preparing communication templates (emails, text messages or signage) to use if you need to communicate to employees or customers about changes or temporary closures to your business
• updating your business continuity plan
• checking that your Australian Business Number (ABN) details are up-to-date on the Australian Business Register, as emergency services and government agencies use this information to identify businesses that may need help and support during emergencies.

It's important to remember, in an emergency your priority is the safety of you and your employees. Then you can look at protecting your business and assets.

Plan ahead by increasing your staffing and inventory levels. Think about what could go wrong over this period and then assess and plan for these risks.

For example, if a key staff member calls in sick over busy trading days, what impact would this have on your business? A way to reduce the impact may be training another staff member to step in.

Use the time for planning and upskilling. It's a good time to: 

• work on your business plans
• refresh your business website or social media channels
• learn new skills or attend events and training
• look at ways you can grow your business.

If you’re shutting down for a period and want your employees to take leave, make sure you understand the rules and obligations under their award or registered agreement.

The summer holiday period is a great time to promote your products or services and your sales. Consumers are ready to spend, and your competitors will be ready with offers, so don’t miss out!

Use tools and software to plan ahead and schedule your marketing activities in advance. That way you don’t have to worry about managing it when you’re too busy or on holidays.

When communicating to your customers, don’t forget to remind them about:

• any shutdown periods
• cut off postage dates
• changes to your trading hours.

The summer period can present cash flow challenges for some businesses due to: 

• customers going away on holidays, making invoicing challenging 
• quiet periods with low income
• busy periods where accounting processes, such as record keeping, can slip. 

The key is to plan ahead for these challenges. For example, you can use accounting software to automate invoicing and help with record keeping.

If you are in doubt, reach out to a professional for advice on how to manage your finances.

If your employees will be working in heat, whether outdoors or indoors, you're responsible for managing the risk of heat-related illnesses. 

During summer, be sure to check the Bureau of Meteorology for the temperature and weather warnings in your area.

Summer can be a stressful time for business owners. 

If you’re expecting a quiet period take some time to recharge with a well-earned break.  

If you’re expecting to be busy, take some steps to prepare so that you avoid burnout:

• Find out what support services are available for business owners. 
• Learn to spot the signs of stress in yourself and your employees.
• Learn about your work health and safety obligations for mental health and how you can create a safe and healthy workplace.