When the power goes out, small business owners are at enormous risk. Not only do they have to factor in lost revenue from fewer working days, but also lost inventory, lost data and, if the company ships products, lost reputation. Power outages from winter storms could translate to thousands of dollars lost from your bottom line. Is your business prepared for the possibility of a power outage lasting days or even weeks?

According to a study by Forbes, most small businesses report less than $50,000 in revenue per year. Without a cross-country network of offices to pick up the slack when the lights go out, losing even a few days' work could be catastrophic. 

Use these tips to mitigate the potential damage to your business from power outages:

• Back up all important files to the cloud and, for things like leases or critical licensing documents, on a hard drive stored in a bank safety deposit box or somewhere else separate from the business. 
• Ensure you have a plan in place to communicate with employees and customers in the case of a power outage or other disaster. 
• Determine if your business can run from home or another remote location, if needed, and set up a plan for moving critical operations there. 
• Review your insurance policies regularly to understand what they cover and when – policies like flood insurance can take up to 30 days from purchase to be applicable.
• Build a back-up plan to protect your power supply, especially if you work with perishable goods. A good way to do this is investing in a standby generator. 

At Cummins, we understand your livelihood depends on keeping the power on and work going. That’s why we developed our most reliable standby generators yet. Our new C125 and C150 models are built to serve small business owners in the worst conditions, rated for temperatures well below 0°F and built to withstand winds up to 180 miles per hour. 

We want to make sure that small businesses, the heart and soul of the American economy, are able to serve your communities when your neighbors need you most. Cummins is here to help small business owners like you by providing standby generators designed to keep your business running, no matter what the weather.