If you’re in construction, landscaping, roofing, or other labor-based industries, you understand that a recession can be a difficult time for your business. Consumers may cut back on spending, making it harder for you to generate revenue and keep your business afloat. 

However, there are steps you can take to prepare for a recession and minimize its impact on your operations. In this blog post, we will explore five ways to prepare your business for a recession, and explain how each one can help you to weather the storm.

Diversify your client base

Diversifying your client base is one of the best ways to prepare for a recession. This means seeking out new customers in different industries or geographic locations. By diversifying your client base, you can reduce your dependence on any one customer or market, which can make it less likely that a recession will have a significant impact on your business.

Let’s say you own a construction business and most of your work comes from the residential housing market. You may want to consider seeking out clients in the commercial construction space too. Having additional avenues to generate business is never a bad idea. If you typically focus on new builds, you might look into remodels or restoration projects as a way to expand and diversify your business’s revenue streams. 

Additionally, if your business is based in one location, you may want to consider expanding to new regions. This way, if one market is more heavily affected by a recession, you still have other markets to rely on.

🚧 Check out Scaling a Construction Company: A Quick Guide

Maintain a strong cash flow

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. This is especially true during a recession. To prepare for a recession, it is important to maintain a strong cash flow by regularly monitoring your income and expenses, and keeping your accounts receivable and payable in good order. 

This will give you the flexibility your business needs to make necessary adjustments to your operations if revenue decreases. 

If you notice that your accounts receivable are increasing, you may want to consider tightening your credit policies, or offer discounts for early payment, cash payment (to avoid credit card processing fees), or paying in full. Additionally, you may want to reduce your expenses by cutting back on unnecessary expenses like office space or employee benefits.

💰 Read More: The Top 6 Ways for Labor-Based Businesses to Save Money in 2023

Develop a recession plan

Having a plan in place for how to respond to a recession can help you to minimize its impact on your business. This plan should include strategies for cutting costs, increasing revenue, and preserving cash flow. 

It should also include an analysis of your business's strengths and weaknesses, and a clear understanding of the economic conditions that may trigger a recession. 

It’s worth considering ways to reduce your overhead costs by outsourcing non-core business functions, or by using a co-working space – especially if the majority of your workforce is in the field or works remotely. 

Look into offering new services or products that are in demand during a recession, like home maintenance or energy-efficient upgrades.

Invest in technology

Technology can be a powerful tool for increasing efficiency and reducing costs. During a recession, it is important to invest in technology that can help you to streamline your operations, such as project management software, mobile apps, and cloud-based accounting software.

By investing in technology, you can make your business more efficient and better equipped to survive a recession. Technology can be one of the best assets for your business, and one of the most worthwhile investments too. 

Investing in time-tracking software like Labor Sync can help you to track your employees’ hours more accurately, track their location and time on jobsites to make sure jobs are profitable, and streamline your payroll. 

👷 Dive deeper into the Pros and Cons of Employee Tracking Apps

Build strong relationships with supplier

Building strong relationships with suppliers can help you to negotiate better prices and terms during a recession. This can help you to reduce your costs and maintain a steady supply of materials and equipment. 

Additionally, working closely with suppliers can help you to identify new opportunities and stay informed about industry trends, which can be valuable information during a recession. Suppliers are typically well-connected and can be a great source of leads for your business. 

Building long-term relationships with suppliers by frequently ordering from them can help build rapport. Suppliers may be willing to provide materials on credit or help you find alternative products to help cut costs if times get tough. These things can make a big difference during a recession.

Conclusion

While a recession can be a challenging time for business, you can take steps to prepare for a recession and minimize its impact on your operations. By keeping your client base diverse, finding new sources of leads, maintaining a strong cash flow, developing a solid recession plan, investing in technology that streamlines your business processes, and building strong relationships with suppliers, you can increase your chances of weathering a recession and coming out on the other side stronger than ever. 

One of the easiest things to do in this process is to try new technology. Labor Sync offers a free 14-day trial for you to see how much our platform can improve your business operations. You’ll get full access to all the features of the app and the support you need to implement it effectively.