You’ve got a tax plan.
A hiring plan.
A marketing plan.
But do you have a you’re-out-of-the-picture plan?
Life has a way of tossing curveballs—illness, family emergencies, burnout, or just plain bad timing. As small business owners, we often forget that we are the business. Until we’re not.
And when that happens without preparation?
Cash flow dries up. Projects stall. Clients drift away.
Meanwhile, your inbox keeps growing like nothing ever happened.
This isn’t doomsday thinking. It’s real life.
Why Business Continuity Planning Isn’t Optional
In the past year alone, we’ve seen business owners:
- Spend weeks in the hospital without a backup financial plan.
- Leave invoices unsent because no one else had account access.
- Scramble to teach someone payroll in the middle of a health crisis.
- Lose months of revenue—not for lack of work, but because they weren’t there to do it.
When you are the single point of failure in your business, everything depends on your availability.
The good news? You can protect your company, your income, and your peace of mind—starting now.
1. Automate What You Can, Document What You Must
If you couldn’t show up tomorrow, who knows:
- How to pay your vendors?
- How to send an invoice?
- Which accounts to log into?
Even a simple shared Google Doc with step-by-step instructions or a secure password manager can be the difference between “business as usual” and “business in crisis.”
Pro tip: For JS Morlu clients, this documentation dovetails perfectly with a financial review—so we can help you spot bottlenecks while you’re documenting them.
2. Build a Cash Flow Buffer—Before You Need It
Emergency funds aren’t just for personal finances. Your business should aim for 3–6 months of essential expenses—payroll, rent, software, insurance.
This isn’t “extra” money—it’s your safety net. You can start small:
- Spread out recurring payments.
- Cut non-essential subscriptions.
- Reassess owner draws and retained earnings while things are stable.
Our cash flow management services help you identify exactly how much buffer you need and how to build it without strangling your growth.
3. Create a “Continuity Cheat Sheet”
It doesn’t have to be formal. Just findable.
At a minimum, document:
- Key client contacts + project statuses.
- How to access financial accounts.
- Insurance, payroll, and vendor contract locations.
- A short list of “who to call first” in your absence.
We’ve built similar checklists for nonprofits, government contractors, and small businesses—tailored to industry-specific needs.
4. Choose a Backup Person—Even If They’re Not “The One”
A backup doesn’t have to be your successor—it just has to be someone who can keep the ship steady:
- A spouse or trusted family member.
- A key team member.
- A business partner.
- A fractional operations consultant.
The point isn’t to hand over the reins permanently—it’s to make sure the business can breathe without you for a short time.
This Is About Peace of Mind, Not Paranoia
Planning for “what if” frees you up to focus on “what’s next.”
You don’t start a continuity plan because you expect disaster.
You start it because you want your business to be resilient—whether you’re on a beach in Maui or in a hospital bed.
How JS Morlu Can Help You Safeguard Your Business
If reading this made you realize your business couldn’t function without you, it’s time for a continuity and cash flow review.
We help clients:
- Map financial dependencies.
- Optimize operating cash flow.
- Build a sustainable, documented backup plan.
- Turn “What if?” into “We’ve got this.”
Our expertise spans industries—from small businesses struggling with cash flow to government contractors facing strict compliance, to nonprofits balancing grant requirements.
Ready to Protect Your Business and Your Sanity?
Contact our office today for a free consultation.
Let’s make sure your business thrives—even if you need to step away.
Because you’re not just the business owner.
You’re human.
And humans need room to be human sometimes.