Business Planning

What Is Risk Management? – Find Out How To Manage Risks in Business

what is risk management

What is risk management? – Simply put, it is the process by which businesses identify, assess, and control the various risks that threaten the growth, capital, and earnings of the organization. The risks for the organization can come from a variety of sources, both internal and external. These can be financial problems, legal problems, management errors, accidents, tech issues, economic problems, disasters, and many more.

In this article, you will learn about risk management in general and will get a good understanding of its essentiality in business. Furthermore, you will also learn the importance of risk management and how it can shape a business. Finally, we will share with you some of the best practices of risk management, with the help of which you can ensure a proper risk management system in place.

What Is Risk Management?

According to IBM.com,

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and controlling financial, legal, strategic and security risks to an organization’s capital and earnings. These threats, or risks, could stem from a wide variety of sources, including financial uncertainty, legal liabilities, strategic management errors, accidents, and natural disasters.

Risk management is important for situations when an unforeseen event (internal or external) pushes the organization into a threatening situation. It can also be an economic situation where an unexpected surprise in the market can heavily impact your business. Hence, having a risk management framework for your business is really essential.

The risk management framework will help you mitigate the risks in a better manner. Even if the risk affects your business, the risk management system will enable you to deal with that risk better. 

External risks are out of your control, and you cannot do a lot to receive the impact of the risks. However, you can do many things to stop and mitigate the internal risks for your business. You will need to anticipate and prepare for the risks, despite the size of the business or the level of impact of the risk in the business.

Read More: Intrapreneurship – Definition, Importance, Duties, And Responsibilities

Why Is Risk Management Important?

Why Is Risk Management Important

According to Investopedia,

Risk management has always been an important tool in running any business, particularly when a market experiences a downturn. In any economic environment, an unexpected surprise can destroy your business in one fell swoop if you don’t have the right risk management strategies in place to prevent, or at least mitigate, the damage from that risk.”

There are many risks that have enough potential to destroy the business and its operations. Hence, as a manager or CEO of the organization, you will need to identify what are the risks that pose threats to the operations of your business.

It does not matter whether the business is a startup or an established one. Risks can impact the business a lot. Even if a risk starts impacting a business, a business that is well-prepared can minimize the impact of the risk on the business’s earnings. With the impact of the risk, the business can also lose a lot of time, productivity, and even customers. 

Hence, the identification of the risks of the business should be a key part of the business’s strategy and planning. You can identify risks in a number of ways once you implement a proper risk management system in the organization. What strategies you will employ to identify those risks should rely on the specific business activities of the company.

What Are The Best Ways To Manage Risks?

What Are The Best Ways To Manage Risks

Having a proper risk management system in place is one of the major necessities. However, people still have their own biases.

According to Harvard Business Review,

Multiple studies have found that people overestimate their ability to influence events that, in fact, are heavily determined by chance. We tend to be overconfident about the accuracy of our forecasts and risk assessments and far too narrow in our assessment of the range of outcomes that may occur.

Here are the steps that you will need to take to ensure that you have a proper risk management system in place:

1. Risk Prioritization

If you have multiple risks, prioritizing the top ones will help you to deal with them as per their impact and possibility of impact.

2. Having A Business Insurance

Once you purchase insurance, you are transferring the risks of the company to insurance companies. Furthermore, you are not paying a lot of costs.

3. Becoming An LLC

If you do not want to be personally liable for the debts of the company, change your company’s structure to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation.

4. Quality Assurance

Quality assurance of products and services will help your business in increasing its reputation. Ensure to test them before customers purchase them. This will allow you to make all the necessary adjustments beforehand. Also, ensure that your testing methods are foolproof.

5. Get Away From High-Risk Customers

Implement a policy in your organization that the company will not entertain customers with poor credit. Even if the company deals with them, the customer must pay ahead of time. This shall lower the complications for the business in the long run.

6. Growth Control

Training your employees is of the highest importance here. To sell your products and services, if you set big goals for your employees, they shall be tempted to take uncalculated risks. This can make things go wrong and damage your company’s reputation.

7. Risk Management Team

Apart from paying an outside company to manage the risks in your business, consider having a risk management team of your own. To do this, you can appoint some of your current and experienced employees to work in risk management.

Read More: Entrepreneur : Who Coined The Term ‘Entrepreneur’?

Final Thought

What is risk management? – Risk management basically creates insurance for the company from within and is really important to ensure the success of the organization. If you want to implement a system within your company, consider following the aforementioned steps. 

To shape a better strategy for your business, you will need to get a better idea of the business and the industry by diving deeper. Do you have any more recommendations regarding better risk management strategies? In that case, consider sharing your thoughts and views with us in the comments section below.

Read Also:

author-img

Soumava Goswami

Inspired by The Social Network, Soumava loves to find ways to make small businesses successful – he spends most of his time analyzing case studies of successful small businesses. With 5+ years of experience in flourishing with a small MarTech company, he knows countless tricks that work in favor of small businesses. His keen interest in finance is what fuels his passion for giving the best advice for small business operations. He loves to invest his time familiarizing himself with the latest business trends and brainstorming ways to apply them. From handling customer feedback to making the right business decisions, you’ll find all the answers with him!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

business continuity

Business Continuity Plan – What Is It, And How Does It Work?

Your business can come across a disaster or a host of negative situations for the business, which negatively affect the work processes of the business. In such cases, business continuity planning is one of the most necessary things to have. A business continuity plan will enable you to stay prepared for any kind of negative situation for the business. This shall further ensure that the business is able to work the same. In this article, you will learn about a business continuity plan and what are its major features. In addition to that, you will also learn how a business continuity plan works for a business. Furthermore, we will also discuss the major benefits of having a business continuity plan for your business. Finally, we will guide you with a step-by-step procedure on how to create such a plan for your business and stay prepared. What Is A Business Continuity Plan? According to Hubspot.com, “A business continuity plan outlines directions and procedures that your company will follow when faced with a crisis. These plans include business procedures, names of assets and partners, human resource functions, and other helpful information that can help maintain your brand's relationships with relevant stakeholders.” The major goal of a business continuity plan is to deal with the situations that disrupt the business. These disruptions can be both minor and full-blown threats. The plan allows you to plan for contingencies ahead of time.  Such plans, as well as preparations according to those plans, can allow your business to continue operations even at times of high risk. Having a plan will help you to deal with the risks and either prevent or mitigate them. Some of the major disruptions that can affect the business include a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, a network breakdown, a cyber attack, and various other factors. These situations are large enough to disrupt organizations of any size. In such situations, a business continuity plan benefits the business by providing it with a procedure, processes, and tools. These will help the business to operate properly and recover within a short span of time. Read More: What Is a Franchise, And How Does It Work? – Examples, Benefits & More How Does A Business Continuity Plan Work? According to VMWare.com, “Business continuity planning is critical because without it, an organization faces downtime and other problems that could damage its financial health. In major disasters, a lack of a business continuity plan could cause irreparable financial harm that might ultimately force a company to permanently close.” In a business continuity plan, the business defines all the risks that can affect the operations of the organization. Hence, the plan becomes an important part of the risk management processes of the business. Some of the major risks include disasters, network breakdowns, cyberattacks, and more. Since threats and disruptions include a loss of revenue and higher costs for the business, it can lead to a loss of business profits. Furthermore, it is also not a great thing for your business to rely on insurance alone. Also, since the business does not cover all the necessary costs, as well as the ones associated with customers, a business continuity plan is necessary to deal with such situations. What Are The Benefits Of Having A Business Continuity Plan? The disasters in a business can be of any size and degree and can even be catastrophic for the business. Hence, a business continuity plan is one of the most essential things you can have for your business. The plan will help you to identify all the major risks that can affect the work processes of your company. According to Investopedia, “BCP is typically meant to help a company continue operating in the event of threats and disruptions. This could result in a loss of revenue and higher costs, which leads to a drop in profitability. And businesses can't rely on insurance alone because it doesn't cover all the costs and the customers who move to the competition.” The following are some of the major benefits of a business continuity plan: It helps to continue operating even in times of disaster. However, it is different from a disaster recovery plan. Helps in improving risk management of the company. It can stop disruptions in the organization from spreading. Helps to mitigate downtime of business technology and networks. It helps to save a lot of money, time, and resources. Business Continuity Plan - Steps To Create Here are some of the major steps you will need to follow if you want to create a business continuity plan: 1. Business Impact Analysis According to Investopedia, “An important part of developing a BCP is a business continuity impact analysis. It identifies the effects of disruption of business functions and processes. It also uses the information to make decisions about recovery priorities and strategies.” Here, your business managers will need to identify the functions of the plan as well as related resources for the business, especially the ones that are sensitive to time. 2. Recovery In this portion of the plan, the planner will need to identify the steps and implement them. This will include the steps for recovery as well. 3. Continuity Team You will need to create a continuity team here. The job of the team will be to devise a plan to manage the disruption of the plan. 4. Continuity Training You will need to train and test the continuity team here. The members of the team will also need to complete various exercises for the application of the plan. Read More: Intrapreneurship – Definition, Importance, Duties, And Responsibilities Summing Up Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of what a business continuity plan is and how it can allow your organization to recover quickly from disasters or, in the best cases, prevent them. The plan is a great option to keep your personnel prepared, save your assets, and ensure the business starts functioning fast. However, you will need to test your business continuity plan from time to time to ensure that there are no gaps in it. To find out gaps, you can create dummy situations or drills with your employees. Do you have any more recommendations on how to create the best business continuity plan? Share your ideas with us in the comments section below. Read Also: Entrepreneur : Who Coined The Term ‘Entrepreneur’? Entrepreneurship – Definition, Meaning, Scope, And More Importance Of Entrepreneurship: Types, Features & Benefits

e-commerce site

How To Build An Ecommerce Website To Boost Your Business

Making new Ecommerce websites are accessible nowadays. Those who have a business based on online media have these Ecommerce websites. It is just like a book of business. You have bought a pair of shoes, perfumes, dresses, etc. They have sent your ordered items to your doorsteps. It seems easy when you are looking at things from the view of a customer. But you will feel challenged when you feel you are the business owner, and you have to send the product to the customers’ doorsteps. However, serial entrepreneurs are doing the most demanding things and maintaining ecommerce websites. Benefits Of Using Ecommerce Websites Serial entrepreneurs always use ecommerce websites to boost their business. However, if you are also thinking of opening a new ecommerce website, you will get a series of benefits. First, ecommerce websites have an option to earn a considerable profit. Now make a website and get the benefits. Now, we will tell you the advantages of opening Ecommerce websites. Go through the book of business and learn the factors. 1. Fast Buy As the owner of the ecommerce website, make your customers satisfied. So, it is easy for them to purchase products in some time. It takes only a minute to buy the product. For example, suppose one of your customers finds a particular product if the person gets it by search and can order it in a single minute. In this way, you can get benefits from using Ecommerce websites. 2. Cost Reduction Process It is a book of business where you have to pay less. For example, if you are selling products in your store, spend money on decoration, electricity, lights, and all. But in the online store, you don’t have to pay for other things. You can follow the serial entrepreneurs. The process is simple and also easy to understand. You don’t have to think of negotiation. If you give a price, interested customers will buy it with that price. But sometimes in the shops, people want you to reduce the cost of the product. However, serial entrepreneurs use Ecommerce websites. Read More: Top 7 Part-Time Work From Home Jobs In 2021 3. Multi Selling Products Using the ecommerce website, you will have time to sell multi-products. For example, you can sell grocery items and also clothing items. The all-in-one facility is excellent and also appreciable. You can open a website and boost your business. Go through the book of business. You may need a designer, but you also do not have to pay extra for creating if you know how to design like it. You will get the best profit through the company. Therefore, make a new website and operate it. How To Build An Ecommerce Site Creating an Ecommerce website is a time-consuming process that may take almost a year to decorate appropriately. However, if you are going to make an ecommerce website for the first time, you may feel bored. Thus, you need to have patience for opening a website and also can see the book of business. Don’t lose patience. Wait for the day of getting a high profit. So, we will now see how to make an Ecommerce website. Design the website in the best way that you can. It is the best time to create an ecommerce website. Serial entrepreneurs always follow these steps. 1. Legal Domain Name When you make a perfect plan for creating an Ecommerce website, choose the niche that you will select. Then, when you locate the place, you will work. After that, you also need to have a name that will perfectly match your business content. Famous serial entrepreneurs always place a proper name as the domain name. With this name, everyone will search and will purchase. You may have to buy the domain name the first time. The official website name is always a registered process. However, pay for that. 2. Legal EIN Number For E-commerce Business When you pay for the domain name, ask to get the EIN. It is the process of Ecommerce website business. If you get a number, that means your business is legal. EIN is the employer identification number. Based on that identity number, pay tax to the online service authority. Visit the book of business and get the details there. The process is the same as the shops. Many websites do not have an EIN. That means the business that the owner is running is illegal. Anytime the owner can get rid of accessing the account. However, you must think of doing a permanent business. Therefore, you must apply for an EIN. 3. Business Permission And License To run a legal e-commerce business, get the license to tell you to have a legal E-commerce business. Then, you need to get permission from the authorities. So, apply for obtaining a permit and go to the next steps. However, wait for the response of the authority and then proceed. Then, in the book of business, it is appropriately mentioned. 4. Designing Designing is the last significant part of creating an Ecommerce website for running a business. When you get an echo from the authority, that means they want you to do the business. However, you go gentle and choose a platform through this, and you will operate the site. For designing, you may need to have a designer. Therefore, select a person who will design your website as you will want. Successful serial entrepreneurs always follow the steps and then open websites and earn money online. Read More: How To Endorse A Check- Step By Step Guide For The Beginners In 2021 The Last Lines These are the steps that serial entrepreneurs have to follow to boost their business through E-commerce. However, all the doubts that you could have been cleared. If you still have doubts, then watch a video and learn in more detail. But before going through the steps, research the market. In that, you will learn what the best niche is in demand. You can go with it, therefore. However, don’t waste your time and seriously have a look at the book of business. It is the best time for you, so go gentle towards your goal. Read More: What Is Network Marketing And How To Do It In 2021 How To Open A Small Restaurant With Less Budget?

Wholesale Hair Extensions: The Backbone Of Your Beauty Business

In beauty and fashion, hair extensions have emerged as a game-changer. They offer a quick and convenient way for people to transform their looks, experiment with different hairstyles, and boost their confidence. For entrepreneurs in the beauty industry, wholesale hair extensions have become the backbone of their business. This article will explore why wholesale artificial hair is essential for beauty businesses and how they can drive success. The Rising Demand For Hair Extensions The demand for hair extensions has been on a constant rise in recent years. Women and men of all ages are turning to hair extensions to achieve longer, thicker, and more luxurious hair. This surge in demand can be attributed to several factors, including the influence of celebrity endorsements, social media, and the desire for a quick hair makeover. Variety And Versatility One of the key advantages of hair extensions at wholesale is the incredible variety and versatility they offer. Beauty entrepreneurs can source extensions in various textures, lengths, and colors to cater to a wide range of client preferences. Wholesalers provide an extensive selection, whether it's straight, curly, wavy, or a specific shade of hair. Quality Assurance When purchasing hair extensions in bulk, beauty businesses can ensure quality control. Reputable wholesale suppliers often provide high-quality, ethically sourced hair that undergoes rigorous testing. This guarantees that the extensions will meet the expectations of your clients, helping you build trust and a loyal customer base. Cost Efficiency Buying hair extensions at wholesale prices allows beauty entrepreneurs to maximize their profit margins. Purchasing in bulk lowers the cost per unit significantly, enabling businesses to offer competitive prices while still enjoying healthy profits. This cost efficiency is a vital factor in the success of any beauty business. Meeting Client Demand Wholesale artificial hair enables beauty businesses to meet the growing demand for hair enhancement services. Whether you run a salon, a retail store, or an online shop, having a steady supply of high-quality extensions is essential to satisfy your clients' needs. Being well-stocked ensures that you can handle both regular appointments and last-minute requests. Building A Brand Identity In the beauty industry, having a unique brand identity is crucial for standing out in a competitive market. Hair extensions at wholesale provide an opportunity to create a signature line of products under your brand. You can customize the packaging, choose specific hair types, and even offer exclusive colors and textures that align with your brand's image. Customer Loyalty Consistency is key to building customer loyalty. Wholesale artificial hair extensions enable you to maintain a consistent supply of products, ensuring that your clients can rely on your services whenever needed. This reliability fosters trust and encourages repeat business, which is essential for the long-term success of your beauty venture. Diversifying Revenue Streams For beauty entrepreneurs looking to diversify their revenue streams, wholesale hair extensions offer an attractive option. You can sell extensions alongside your salon services or retail them through your online store. This diversification boosts your income and makes your business more resilient to market fluctuations. Educational Resources Many wholesale suppliers offer educational resources and support to their clients. This can include training on installing and maintaining hair extensions, marketing assistance, and access to product knowledge. Such resources are invaluable for beauty businesses, especially those looking to expand into the hair extension market. In conclusion, wholesale hair extensions have emerged as the backbone of the beauty industry. They offer beauty entrepreneurs a range of benefits, from cost efficiency and quality assurance to brand identity and marketing opportunities. By incorporating wholesale artificial hair extensions into your beauty business, you can meet the rising demand for hair enhancement services, diversify your revenue streams, and build customer loyalty. Ultimately, these extensions can be the key to the success and growth of your beauty venture in a competitive market. Read Also: why create a powerful business continuity plan? what is network marketing and how to do it in 2021 how to start a business in 2021 – best business strategies

The Role of Franchise Consultants in Expanding Businesses

The Role of Franchise Consultants in Expanding Businesses

Want to know how a franchise consultant can help you expand your business? Then this article might be exactly what you are looking for. In this article we discuss ‘what is the role of a franchise consultant in business expansion?’ Every business has different players who have their own role in expanding the business. So, if you are looking to expand your business or businesses you can definitely hire franchise consultants.  To answer, what is the role of a franchise consultant? It's to offer you guidance on how you can grow your business and support you through the process. These consultants not only support you as a franchisor but also your people are willing to invest in your franchise business model.  As franchisees face lots of obstacles when trying to achieve business goals, here franchise consultants provide guidance to overcome these obstacles. Similarly when you are franchising your business you will have to overcome several obstacles to achieve your goal of expansion. Here consulting an expert or experts in franchising business will be beneficial for you in your journey to expansion. So, here we will see how these franchise consultants can contribute to your business franchise success. Understanding the Fundamentals of Franchise Consultancy To understand what is the role of a franchise consultant you will need to think of these experts as a connectors between two parties. One of these parties is you as the business owner who wants to franchise your business. While the other being those who wants to take up your business franchise.  So, the role of franchise consultants is to work as a link between aspiring franchisors and potential franchisees. As franchise consultants from developing strategies to formulating target business strategies, several tasks fall upon these consultants. They also take care of all the documentation related to franchising your business by utilising their knowledge of this sector. They are experts in their sector which makes it beneficial for you to have them guide you when franchising businesses.  Your brand ethos is ensured when creating strategies which can be robust and scalable at the same time. They start by market analysis then plan the finances to expand your business and then move forward towards operations.  This helps you give a closer look at how much you would need to expand your business financially and what changes need to happen to make it a success.  So, to answer your question, what is the role of a franchise consultant? It is to do all the work necessary before laying down a solid foundation for your business franchise. This groundwork helps you achieve success when you expand your business. Franchise consultant’s ability to translate complex industry dynamics into actionable strategies make them an indispensable asset for your business expansion. Engaging with a franchise consultant such as the many specialists at Infinity Business Growth Network opens the door to a reservoir of specialised skills and insights tailored to navigate the intricate franchising landscape efficiently. How Franchise Consultants Facilitate Franchisee Recruitment An important aspect of hiring a franchise consultant is to recruit the right franchisees. They play a crucial part in the expansion strategy by leveraging their vast network and industry connections. This helps them source individuals who share the brand's core values and possess the zeal and capability to drive the franchise toward success.  Franchise consultants play the role of screening potential franchisees for your business expansion through targeted marketing techniques. Their strategic approach is to ensure perfect alignment of business goals between your potential franchisees and your business. So, in the long run no conflicts of interest are faced in your business expansion goal.  Their expertise allows them to identify candidates with the ideal mix of entrepreneurial spirit who can grow your business. Afterall when you are thinking of franchising your business you are looking to grow your profits. So it's essential for potential franchisees to foster a fruitful franchise relationship with your business. These consultants will facilitate a smoother and more efficient pathway for business growth through finding you the perfect franchisees. Their expertise helps your brand get franchised to franchisees who are fully equipped and committed to upholding your business standards. Thus, contributing to your business goal and success. Navigating Legal and Regulatory Challenges with Franchise Consultants Venturing into the franchising domain brings myriad legal and regulatory intricacies that can prove overwhelming for many businesses. Engaging a franchise consultant offers a pathway through this labyrinth, as these professionals understand the legal landscape governing franchising.  They are adept at steering businesses through the preparation and scrutiny of franchise agreements. These consultants ensure franchising documents are compliant with prevailing laws and strategically aligned with the businesses growth strategies. Their expertise extends to advising on intellectual property protection, which is essential for maintaining brand integrity and competitive advantage in the franchise industry.  Moreover, franchise consultants are instrumental in identifying and addressing any potential legal hurdles. Therefore, mitigating risks that could derail the franchising process. This proactive approach to legal compliance fortifies a business's legal standing and instils confidence among potential franchisees.  This lays a solid foundation for successful and sustainable franchise expansion. Engaging with such experts ensures that businesses adhere to legal mandates. Also ensures that they are positioned to thrive in the competitive franchising arena, unhindered by legal impediments. The Impact of Franchise Consultants on Business Growth and Expansion Want to know what is the role of a franchise consultant in expanding your business? They offer an indispensable partnership for businesses who are eager to scale through franchising. If you are someone who is looking to increase your profitability by expanding your business, then you can hire a franchise consultant.  They strategize a ripe environment where your business can navigate the ever changing market to franchise their business. With their strategic input, companies can navigate the multifaceted realms of market penetration, operational efficiencies, and brand consistency with greater ease and precision.  Here the role of these consultants goes beyond just advisory as it involves hands-on assistance in sculpting a franchise model. From appealing prospective franchisees to developing strategies for business expansion that can be capable of sustaining your business in long-term growth, franchise consultants' role is crucial. Different development of franchise strategies can bring in different franchisees for your business helping you grow your customer base from every sector. So, your business expansion efforts are practical and aligned with the brand’s core values for the long-term. Their recruitment of proper prospective franchisees gives you an added benefit of sustaining business growth for the long-term. These consultants can mitigate risks and streamline your business franchising process to boost your business significantly through successful partnership. So their collaborative endeavour with your business enhances your brand’s market presence. This solidifies your competitive edge in the market which ensures your franchise system thrives and scales in a sustainable manner. You can achieve not only expansion in the regional but expanding internationally when your franchise is successful under their guidance.  This creates a new chapter for your business growth. Choosing the Right Franchise Consultant for Your Business Now if you are knowledgeable about what is the role of a franchise consultant in expanding your business, let’s talk about how to select the appropriate franchise consultant for your business. You must select an appropriate franchise consultant for your business through proper evaluation of their expertise. Look for their accomplishments and understanding of your business sector when selecting a particular franchise consultant for your business. Expert franchise consultants will have a history of facilitating successful franchise operations which can make them the right pick for your company. They will have not only theoretical knowledge but also practical application of strategies that will resonate with your business model. Their depth of insights into your industry plays a crucial role, as it can influence how well your business does in their guidance. Your brand’s identity and market goal should also align with their ability to develop strategies for your business. Additionally, you can assess the consultant’s network and the depth of their services to ensure they can support your business expansion aspirations. Compatibility with your business vision and values is also critical, as this relationship is foundational to navigating the franchising journey successfully.  Conclusion Opting for a consultant who mirrors your enthusiasm and dedication can significantly streamline the process, making your venture into franchising both productive and rewarding. Prioritising these factors will guide you toward a partnership that fosters your immediate expansion efforts and positions your franchise for sustained growth and success in the competitive marketplace.