Six strategies for recession-proofing small businesses

With South Africa officially entering a technical recession in the fourth quarter of 2019, it’s tough out there for small and medium businesses. Add a weak exchange rate, the prospect of Moody’s downgrading our sovereign credit rating to junk, forecasts of more load shedding, and a coronavirus wreaking havoc with the world economy. It’s not going to get easier any time soon.

But as the cliché goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And South Africa’s small and medium businesses are as robust and resilient as you can get. Many of them will emerge from this challenging period stronger than ever. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to ensure your business survives and even grows when economic conditions are poor.

• 1. Manage cash-flow even more tightly

  The key to surviving a recession is to watch your cash flow like a hawk. Run regular cash flow forecasts to estimate how much money your business has coming in and going out. This will help you cut the cloth according to the resources you’ll have at hand. A right accounting solution will help you to forecast cash flow based on when invoices are due to be paid, credit notes are due to be refunded and any recurring income or expenses.

  Avoid selling on credit, especially if you’ll be on the hook for VAT or payments to your suppliers before the customer settles your bill. If you’re in an industry where you can’t avoid giving credit – for example, supplying legal services to a corporate – become more assertive about collecting payments by the due date.

  2. Cut the frills

  If you’re anticipating or experiencing a drop in revenue, cost-cutting can be an effective way to maintain profitability. You could, for example, look at running a more virtual business if you’re in a space like marketing. Rather than spending money on rental and petrol, you can shepherd your team and clients towards using online tools to collaborate.

  It’s also wise to review the day-to-day running expenses. When last did you switch insurance providers and are you sure you’re getting a good deal? Can you still afford the Friday morning ritual of cappuccinos and croissants for the team? Do you buy stationery and consumables you don’t need?

  Unless you are genuinely overstaffed, downsizing your headcount should be a step of last resort. This is because laying off people can harm morale and customer service, plus, you’ll need to pay retrenchment packages. You’ll also face recruitment and training costs in future when you start growing again and need to hire.

  3. Pivot to a recession-proof sector

  If your bread-and-butter business is under pressure, you can look at ways that you can use your skills and infrastructure to target more recession-proof markets. For example, if you’re running a supermarket, evaluate getting into the bulk discounted food game. A car dealer can step up focus on repairs and secondhand sales rather than pushing new cars. And if you’re in interior design, an exciting opportunity may beckon in home staging – making houses look their best to facilitate sales during a challenging market.

  4. Focus on customer service 

  During a downturn, your customers are also feeling the pressure. They’ll turn every cent over twice before they spend it. The key to surviving the recession is to retain as many of your good customers as you can. Figure out what is important to them and keep delivering the quality of service that they expect.

  As you cut costs, try to do so in a way that doesn’t damage the customer experience. If you do face a trade-off between maintaining your standards and meeting customer’s price expectations, communicate openly about the decisions you are making and how they will affect the customer. For example, if you’re expecting the rand/dollar exchange rate to affect the costs of the hair treatment products you use in your hair salon to rise, let customers know you’re increasing your prices or switching to a cheaper alternative. If possible, offer them a choice or find out which option works best for most of them.

  5. Get smart and tactical about sales and marketing

  Too many small businesses make the mistake of ending all marketing efforts when a recession hits. But the short-term cost-saving comes at the cost of building a strong pipeline of leads and sales for the future. Plus, maintaining sales and marketing efforts throughout a downturn can help you to grow market share as other companies in your space reduce their spending.

  Rather than abandoning all marketing efforts, review your spending to see where you are getting the best return on investment. You might find that it pays off to focus on low-cost digital channels such as search and social rather than print or radio. Tactical executions such as sales, price promotions and discounts can help drive sales in a tight market.

  6. Starting a business in a recession

  If you are thinking about starting a business, you don’t necessarily need to change your plans because of a pothole in the economy. Some businesses do well in nearly any economy, and that can thrive in a recession:

• Accounting services
• Debt counselling
• Financial advice
• Training and education
• Repairs and maintenance
• Discount retail

For some inspiration, remember that the likes of General Electric, Microsoft, Burger King and many more were founded in painful economic periods. Starting a business in a recession is a baptism of fire, but you’ll run lean, develop good habits and put yourself in a strong position to grow when the economy recovers.