We all love a good plan until life happens.
A client ghosting you. A key employee quits overnight. Your laptop dies with everything on it (we’ve all been there). Or, bigger picture, your entire business gets thrown off by a power outage, a fire, a pandemic (hello, 2020), or just one really bad Monday.
Most of us know we should have a backup plan. Few of us actually do.
That’s where Business Continuity Planning (BCP) comes in. And no, it doesn’t have to be a boring 50-page PDF you’ll never read again.
So… what is BCP, really?
In simple terms, BCP is your “What If” playbook:
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What if a disaster hits?
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What if your key supplier disappears?
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What if your core system fails?
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What if you can’t work for a week?
It’s about figuring out how you’ll keep going or bounce back fast without losing your mind (or your customers).
Why you actually need one
Look, I know we’d all rather focus on growth, sales, or the fun parts of running things. But trust me: A little time spent on a continuity plan now can save you way more pain later.
BCP is not about expecting the worst; it’s about staying calm when the unexpected hits.
What goes in a simple BCP?
Here’s what I usually recommend to small teams and solo operators:
1. Your must-have operations: What must keep running no matter what? Example: customer support, order delivery, invoicing.
2. Critical people & contacts: Who are your go-to team members? Key suppliers? Backup vendors? Write them down with phone numbers, not just emails.
3. Backups & access: Where are your files stored? Do you have cloud backups? Who else has the passwords? (Pro tip: share access before disaster strikes.)
4. Workarounds: If the worst happens, what’s Plan B? Remote work? Manual processes? A backup supplier?
5. Communication plan: How will you tell your team, clients, or customers what’s up and keep them calm while you fix things?
How to get started (without losing your weekend)
If you want to make this easy:
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Block one afternoon.
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Grab a notebook or a doc.
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Walk through the five steps above.
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Write down what you know. Don’t overthink it.
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Share it with your team (or a trusted friend if you’re solo).
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Then put a reminder to review it every 6 months.
One last thing
A solid BCP doesn’t stop bad things from happening. But it does help you sleep better at night knowing that if life throws you a curveball, you won’t be scrambling in the dark.
So, go on and give your future self a favour. A little “what if” plan today could be what keeps your business afloat tomorrow.
Need help?
If this sounds like a headache you’d rather not do alone, I’m always happy to help you set up a practical plan that actually works.
Stay calm, plan ahead. You’ve got this.
