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How Can My Small Business Address Issues Regarding COVID-19?

Owning and operating a small business can be exciting and financially rewarding. Many entrepreneurs enjoy independence, control, and opportunity for financial gain. Rewards come with risks, however, and the current COVID-19 pandemic has exposed small businesses to unforeseen difficulties and challenges. Over the years, MacMain Leinhauser has provided counsel to many small business owners. Today, we are prepared to help our clients with very challenging small business issues that many are facing during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

The Face of Small Business has Changed

 The scene along a typical American business district in June 2020 is starkly different than it was just a few months ago. In many business districts, foot traffic is way down, and some long-established shops have closed their doors. Even as some businesses begin to reopen under new restrictions, no one knows when business as usual will return. According to a survey conducted by the Small and Medium Business Group, small businesses employing less than 20 employees have been hit the hardest. They were the first to stop hiring subcontractors, lay off workers, or reduce hours. The survey also reported that the retail, restaurant, and personal service sectors have suffered the most.

The negative impact on the American economy cannot be overstated. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), businesses with less than 500 employees account for nearly half of the employees in the United States. Main Street America (MSA), a network of over 1,600 commercial districts comprising of approximately 300,000 small businesses, recently conducted a survey that projected millions of small businesses closing permanently if the COVID-19 pandemic continued into the summer and beyond. The survey also revealed that small business owners cite the need for financial assistance and penalty-free extensions on expenses to stay open.

Addressing the Challenges

There are options that businesses can explore to stay afloat temporarily, including deferring tax payments, examining existing insurance policies for clauses pertaining to business continuity/business interruption coverage, and applying for various types of SBA loans and debt relief. SBA-backed programs include the following:

  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Temporarily expands the existing SBA 7(a) program that provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): Provides up to $10,000 to businesses currently experiencing economic difficulties
  • SBA Express Bridge Loans: Provide up to $25,000
  • SBA Debt Relief: For businesses that currently have SBA 7(a) loans

Because these measures provide only temporary relief, more may be needed for a company to remain afloat. In the long-term, small businesses may want to examine the specific underlying causes of their vulnerability and enlist the help of professionals to restructure the way they do business.

Specific Areas to Address

 The SBA has identified key areas of vulnerability that small businesses may encounter as the pandemic unfolds, including the following:

  • Access to capital. Businesses may benefit from exploring additional options for accessing capital, including SBA-backed loans for different purposes and businesses.
  • Supply chain problems. Strategies for addressing potential supply chain shortfalls include maintaining adequate inventory on hand when possible, renegotiating contracts with suppliers, and diversifying distributor sources.
  • Deep-cleaning and facility remediation. One key to staying in business during the pandemic is frequent and thorough cleaning of surfaces. Businesses need to enlist the use of cleaning services that are qualified to conduct deep cleaning on a regular basis.
  • Compliance with regulations to protect workers. Some states and municipalities are issuing mandates that workplaces provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and institute other measures to ensure the safety of workers as businesses reopen.
  • Formulation of social distancing policies. Small businesses need to make it clear to staff and customers any changes in policies regarding on-site, wearing PPE, the use of breakrooms or bathrooms, and any other measures deemed necessary for compliance with social distancing guidelines.
  • Response to changes in market demand. Depending upon the nature of the business, a company may need to refocus operations and marketing strategies to make a profit in the stay-at-home environment. This may include online ordering systems or using social media or other means to attract customers.

Recent Developments

 America’s Small Business and Development Centers (SBDC) are continually updating a national joint study on the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Data from the mid-May 2020 study indicated the following:

  • Nearly half of small businesses that obtained an SBA loan feel they will qualify for loan forgiveness
  • More than half of small businesses are operating at 50 percent capacity or less
  • More than 60 percent of small businesses are concerned about a second wave of COVID-19

If the pandemic continues, small businesses seeking to stay in operation may want to enlist the assistance of a small business attorney to respond to the new environment and institute changes to adapt. Matters in which professional legal counsel can be of great benefit during these uncertain times include the following:

  • Preparing a return to work plan for your staff and a re-opening plan for your customers.
  • Reviewing qualifications required for PPP loan forgiveness
  • Reviewing insurance policies to determine eligibility for business continuity coverage
  • Assisting with employment and human resources matters, such as unemployment insurance for furloughed workers and policies for returning back to work safely
  • Reviewing contracts with supply chain partners and/or cleaning services
  • Renegotiating lease agreements for businesses or retail space
  • Drafting measures to protect the business from liability if workers or customers contract COVID-19
  • Answering questions concerning potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in requiring employees with COVID-19 symptoms to leave the workplace

Small business owners may have been hesitant in the past to reach out for legal assistance. Today in the face of COVID-19, the very survival of a business may depend upon skilled legal guidance. We are available to provide the support needed to continue operating successfully.

The small business attorneys at MacMain Leinhauser have helped many small businesses in the past with serious legal issues, and we stand ready during the pandemic to help new and existing clients with unforeseen challenges. If you have legal questions arising from the impact of COVID-19 on your business, reach out to us today by calling 484-318-7106 or fill out our online form for an initial consultation. We are able to conduct meetings via phone or videoconference. We serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia and Chester County, from our office in West Chester, Pennsylvania.