Back
in August 2020 I wrote in our monthly client newsletter “I have been
doing a lot of thinking about this whole Covid 19 thing. If you are
still in business congratulations. If you are a still open restaurant
business owner, you are an extraordinary business person.
Yelp
is reporting that at least 4,400 Chicago businesses have closed
permanently. As we enter the fourth month of this thing (I really don’t
know how to define it) I have nothing but respect and admiration for
you, my valued client. ‘
So
here we go again. Another shutdown aimed at the hospitality industry.
Another challenge, with virtually no financial aid available. I have
been thinking again. What advice can we give you? What are the things
you should be doing right now?
Remember
if it is going to be it is up to me. You must be your own advocate.
The survival of your business depends solely on the actions you take
now. Pick up the phone and call your local mayor, county board member,
state legislator, state senator, governor (no comment), congressman, and
senator. Tell these elected officials how the current shutdown is
affecting both your business and employees lives. Ask for their
assistance.
Apply
for unemployment benefits. By now you know the drill. If you have an
account you will have to apply online. Remember you must have paid
yourself a salary to receive benefits. And yes IDES is still a mess. We
continue to offer limited assistance for clients. Please call with any
questions.
Update your must needed web site, google my business, yahoo and yelp review sites. Here are the links:
Get
your free personalized report to see how your business appears online.
More importantly Yahoo complies a Covid 19 Small Business Resource
Listing that is the most comprehensive I have found on the web. This up
to date list of the most useful COVID-19 resources from government,
non-profit and private companies is updated daily to support small
businesses during this time of crisis.
And finally:
All of the above web sites are free
Start
an eat local campaign. Prominently display outside of your restaurant a
banner telling your customers you are still open and asking for their
support. Carryout here and keep local jobs. Here is a link to https://www.bannersonthecheap.
Call
you suppliers and landlords again. Be upfront about the situation and
your intentions on paying past due bills. Do not hesitate to call your
vendors. They want to hear from you.
And
finally consider a Business Interruption Grant. You must have been in
business prior to the original March 2020 Covid shutdown. You will need
bank statements from July and August of 2019 and July and August of
2020. You will need a copy of your business tax return. These items
along with a copy of the owner’s drivers license and a signed W 9 and we
can make an application for your business. Please note that if you did
receive other Cares Act funding such as a PPP loan or an Economic
Injury Disaster loan or grant, your application will be considered after
others who have not received any assistance to date.
The
first person you should call is your tax guy! No other person on your
team has the experience, resources and contacts with other small
business owners, such as yourself, to help you find the answer to that
most perplexing, impossible to solve problem.
No
matter the problem, we continue to offer you unlimited free telephone
assistance, no matter what your client service level is, 52 weeks a
year. No calling customer service call centers. No extra charge
meters. No need to worry. A trained experienced professional is ready,
willing, and able to offer assistance and answer your questions. We
demonstrate and deliver value to our clients every day.
