Imagine This…

No one ever expects it—one moment you’re going about your day, and the next, life throws a curveball. For small business owners, those curveballs don’t just hit your personal life…they ripple through your entire business. When you’re the heart and brain of your operations, even a temporary disruption can feel catastrophic

You’re driving home after running errands, feeling good about the momentum your business is building because you just gained another client. Then, in a blink, a car accident changes everything. You’re okay, but you’ve broken your leg, need surgery, and are ordered weeks of recovery. Suddenly, you’re not just dealing with physical healing. You’re faced with a bigger question: what happens to your business while you’re down?

The first few days are a blur of doctors, family, and logistics. But then reality sinks in. Deadlines are looming. Clients are waiting. Your laptop sits unopened while you’re stuck in bed, exhausted and medicated. Panic sets in. Guilt creeps in. The nagging thought grows louder: “I can’t do it all…but no one else knows what to do.”

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The Costs of Being Unprepared

Monetary Costs:

• Lost contracts and refunds for missed deadlines: $5,000–$15,000.
• Revenue missed during recovery: 6 weeks of downtime = $10,000–$25,000 depending on business size.
• Emergency contractor/VA hired last-minute: $2,000+ in fees.
• Medical expenses not fully covered by insurance: $3,000–$8,000.

Hidden Costs:

• Strained client relationships; some might not even come back after delays.
• Damaged reputation: whispers of being “unreliable.”
• Emotional toll: guilt, stress, and the fear of losing everything you’ve built.
• Recovery pressure: feeling forced to work before you’re healed.

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What They Could Have Done Instead…

You’re in recovery mode, but your business? It’s now in limbo. Why?! (great question)…

If a continuity plan had been in place, things would look very different. The business could have:

• Documented standard operating procedures (so someone else could step in).
• A trusted backup contact or Virtual Assistant ready to handle urgent tasks.
• Communication templates to update clients quickly and professionally.
• A financial buffer set aside to cover 4–6 weeks of downtime.

Instead of panic and loss, there could’ve been calm, clarity, and confidence—even in the middle of a personal crisis.

Think about your emergency contact form at the doctor’s office. You probably have a spouse, parent, or trusted friend listed—someone who can step in if something happens to you. Your business deserves that same kind of safeguard. Without a continuity plan, your business has no “emergency contact.” If something goes wrong, there’s no one—and no process in place—to call.

Lesson Learned

The accident was a wake-up call. Being “the only one who knows how everything works” wasn’t a strength—it was a liability. The owner realized that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back after the fact, it’s about preparing the runway so you don’t crash when life happens.

If this story hit a little too close to home, it’s time to move from “hoping for the best” to actually preparing for it.

Next Steps

Start small: Download the free Ready-ish Isn’t Ready checklists to spot your biggest gaps. Because your business deserves more than just surviving the unexpected — it deserves to last.

Plan today. Thrive tomorrow.