Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery is not something a small business owner thinks about very often. As a CFO, I’m always thinking about cash. After all, CASH is king as it’s the life blood of any organization. However, your company’s ability to produce cash can end in the blink of an eye if a disaster strikes.

According to the 2009 Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Survey, disasters are not always the result of high winds and rain. In the past two years, 52% of businesses experienced an unforeseen interruption, and the vast majority (81%) of these interruptions caused the business to be closed for one or more days. 

Many of you may be thinking “I have business interruption insurance. Isn’t that enough?” Business interruption insurance covers the continued business operation expenses. However, owning business interruption insurance is only half your battle. It doesn’t provide the logistics needed for your company to continue to operate and produce cash. You are losing customers and cash each day your company is out of commission.

The solution to this logistics challenge is as close as a search on the internet. Search for business continuity and disaster recovery and you will find several companies that have the capability to provide 1) power with emergency generators stationed across the country, 2) technology with IT and office equipment stocked for express delivery, 3) space with mobile office suites complete with desks & chairs and 4) connectivity with a satellite to restore phone and internet service. All this provided within a matter of days to get your company back to doing what it does best, producing cash.

As a small company owner or CFO, you may be thinking, “This is great, but I would think this cost more than our budget can afford.”  Well, the good news is the cost of acquiring business continuity peace of mind like this is a small recurring monthly fee of a few hundred dollars per month.  Unlike insurance, the service is not dependent on what caused a loss. The focus is recovering your business.

So, the next time you see a disaster unfolding on the TV news, just remember that it is not out of the realm of possibilities that your company would fall victim to an ice storm, a tornado, a flood, a hurricane or a fire during the course of its existence. However, you can also take comfort in knowing that, for a few hundred dollars a month, you can preserve your company’s operational capability to continue to produce revenue.

Stan Holcombe of Holcombe & Company (Provider of contract CFO/COO services to small businesses) is a Trusted Advisor of the BUSINESS HOUSE, inc.^SM For more information or to contact Stan Holcombe, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .