5 Tips to Protect Your Business From Crime

You try not to worry too much about crime. After all, positive thinking proponents suggest that whatever you worry about manifests. Still, you need to put some processes in place to protect your business from crime.

Here are some tips on simple systems, inspired by a Startup Donut list, that you can implement to make your business safe, inside and out. With these in place, you'll have more time to focus on good things, like growth.

Tips for Business Safety

1. Do a risk assessment: The first step is to take the lay of the land and consider what you need to cover. Is your office in a mall with security guards or a hip warehouse in a shady part of town? Your location, business, and the particular risks you must target will depend on what you do and where you are.
2. Cover the basics: Wherever you're located, check the windows, doors, and vulnerable locations. Can all of these be locked when necessary? Does anyone check that they are secured at the right times? What about alarm systems and cameras? Simple deterrents go a long way and may prevent pricey burglaries. If you do have to spend money on improving security, check your insurance to see if you could lower costs as a result.
3. Speaking of insurance: Are you properly covered? Having insurance doesn't prevent crime but it ensures that if something bad happens, it doesn't sink your business.
4. Get organized: To prevent theft, know what you have. Keep your stock organized at all times and have a sense of business needs. When anything disappears or seems weird, you'll be aware. This can prevent both internal and external theft, depending on your business.
5. Train employees on security: Make sure everyone in your shop has an idea of how to handle a dangerous situation. Some business owners go to great lengths, like a Georgia man who provided pistols and gun training for his employees after a string of burglaries in the region. You need not be this extreme but you should still train workers on emergency response in the context of the particular business you own.

Consult With Counsel

If you are unsure about how to approach a total safety system, and want help with all the various aspects -- from planning to insurance and employee training tips -- talk to a lawyer. Counsel can provide guidance and advise you on the details relevant to your operation.

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