1. Befriend Your Landlord If disaster strikes or the economy slows your small business, you may need lease concessions. Cultivate the relationship before you have to ask for help.

2. Keep Numbers Handy From your insurance agent, to equipment service providers, its easier if you have all your essential contact info in one safe place, should you ever need them.

3. Update Your Business Plan A business plan is a living, breathing documentnot something to stick in a drawer and forget. Make sure you read and adjust yours regularly.

4. Anticipate The Unexpected The Worst-Case Scenario handbook gives examples many of us will never face; however, considering what could happen to your small business is essential.

5. Create Job Descriptions Each position in your small business needs a description defining expectations. If you dont have them, let your employees help you develop them.

6. Protect Yourself Meet annually with your insurance representative(s) to ensure your small business and personal needs are protected at the levels that let you sleep well.

7. Have A Backup Plan Remote backup of computer files is inexpensive, and you never have to think about it. Hard drives crash, and if yours ever does, youll get operating again quickly.

8. Know Where Youll Go When a hurricane nears, many people start considering where theyll head. Planning in advance, and knowing your evacuation route, saves valuable time.

9. Develop A Succession Plan Warren Buffett keeps the names of the successors for all his businesses in an envelope in his desk. Consider what happens if something happens to you.

10. Establish A Line Of Credit The time to visit a bank and develop solid relationships is when things are going well, not when you need money. Doing this in advance will make things easier.

11. Cross Train Make sure your employees understand each others roles, and help them learn new skills. Theyll grow professionally, and youll be prepared, in case someone leaves.

Copyright 2005 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.

David Handler

The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, LLC, and specializes in helping franchisees, franchisors and business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he’s been there – as a franchisee, franchisor, business owner, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.

There are two “I’s” in accountability – You and Me! Together we will achieve your destiny.©

David worked with ABC Sports, ESPN and regional sports programmers HSE (now Fox Sports Southwest) and Raycom. He produced more than 700 live events, including NFL football, NCAA football and basketball, and Major League Baseball. Career highlights were broadcasting Nolan Ryan's 5,000th career strikeout and two of the 15 perfect games in MLB history (Mike Witt-1984 and Kenny Rogers-1994). The second earned a national Telly Award for best sports production and was nominated for an ESPY.

In 1988, David awoke in the middle of the night from a dream and wrote down four words: "Notre Dame, football, travel." Partnering with two lifelong friends, David helped Anthony Travel become the Official Travel Service of the University of Notre Dame, Disney's Wide World of Sports¨ complex and several other universities. Over one five-year period, Anthony Travel was named one of the 100 fastest growing privately held companies in Dallas on three occasions.

After selling his interest in the travel company in 1998, David joined the International Center for Entrepreneurial Development (ICED) - a family of franchises with nine brands and more than 1,000 locations around the world. As senior VP in charge of marketing, he developed creative programs that franchisees used to gain new customers and increase profits.

David founded Success Handler to utilize the skills gained during his 23-year business career in a coaching capacity with franchisees, franchisors and business owners.