Business Interruptions: Natural Disasters

When you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters -- think Florida, Louisiana, Texas for hurricanes, or California for wildfires and earthquakes -- it's important to diversify your business, just in case disaster strikes.

I've written before about disaster planning ... but a key component of that is being able to get back to doing business -- either while you're evacuated, or after the power comes back on.

Hurricane Ike -- and the devastation it has brought to the Texas coast -- is a perfect example of this. If you're a resume writer in this area, it would be wise to consider partnering with another resume writer who doesn't live in an affected area, or shifting at least part of your business to subcontract writing for other firms. That way, when disaster strikes, your total income is not dependent on local clients, who may also be suffering from the tragedy.

Look at New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. A huge proportion of the state's population simply left the state after the storm, in September 2005. If you were reliant on local clients, they simply disappeared. Many of them never came back. If you're a resume writer in Galveston today, your clients (hopefully) left in anticipation of Hurricane Ike. Who knows when they'll come back. My database of resume writers shows 20 professionals in Houston alone. What are they doing today? Many of them don't have power. Some of them have damage to their home and/or office. Business interruption insurance is nice ... but it will take time to get back up to speed.

If you have a relationship with a subcontracting firm, you can adjust your workload while you evacuate ... and then quickly start accepting new projects once you're settled somewhere (if you evacuated), or once the power comes back on. With firms like CareerPerfect, you can write from anywhere you can get access to a computer and Internet connection. Everything is stored on their digital servers, so even if you had to leave without your paper files, it's all on there.

If you're interested in learning more about subcontracting, be sure to order my special report, "Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor" (it includes more than 30 individuals or firms looking for subcontractors; available for immediate download as a PDF.)

The report also includes a sample cover letter you can use when approaching subcontracting firms, plus "red flags" you should watch for when selecting a firm for a contracting relationship.

Note: If you are looking for IMMEDIATE subcontracting opportunities, I received an e-mail from a resume writer who is actively seeking out 2-3 new subcontractors to assist her with projects. Pay ranges from $100 to $175 per project, and no client contact is required. She's looking for creative, dependable CPRWs with at least five years' of experience. Purchase the MMRS report and look for the "NEW!" designation in the listing of Subcontracting Firms for her contact information.