The United States government offered a number of relief and stimulus funding options through the Small Business Administration (SBA) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the widely-used Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Many small businesses were able to access funding through these sources, but PPP and other programs have since closed, leaving many businesses short as they continue to navigate capacity limits, changing guidelines, staff shortages, and the threat of temporary closure.

Other funding options exist to aid in COVID-19 recovery, including the popular SBA 7(a) Guaranteed Loans program and other traditional lending options offered by banks and credit unions, but these options have very strict approval requirements and only the strongest businesses are approved. This excludes many deserving small businesses, including those that experienced drops in revenue over the COVID-19 pandemic. Without cash reserves or property to fall back on, these small businesses may not be able to provide a down payment or offer collateral to prove their creditworthiness and secure approval for these funding options.

If your small business needs funding to recover and continue to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic but you don't meet the strict requirements of the SBA and other lenders, don't panic. There are a number of alternative funding options available to you, including flexible funding like merchant cash advances (MCAs).

Merchant cash advances emerged after the 2008 recession in response to a growing need for accessible small business funding. Available from direct online lenders like Bluerock Options®, MCAs have flexible approval requirements and a streamlined application that makes more funding available to businesses that are typically underserved by the SBA and other traditional lenders, including women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses.

Before we take a look at how merchant cash advances can help businesses recover from COVID-19 closures, it helps to understand what merchant cash advances are and how they work. Keep reading to learn more.

A merchant cash advance is technically not a loan-it's actually a non-loan form of financing known as an "asset purchase" or a "purchase of future receivables". This means that a lender essentially purchases a portion of your business's future revenue in exchange for cash up front. You'll receive an advance of working capital when you need it, and the lender will receive a portion of your daily or weekly debit and credit card sales until the advance has been repaid (along with any fees).

MCAs are controlled under different regulations than traditional loans and lenders. These regulations can vary from state to state and are generally not as strict as those that govern banks and other traditional lenders, allowing alternative lenders like Bluerock Options to offer customized terms and flexible funding that is tailored to the needs of the borrower.

Learn more about merchant cash advances and what they’re used for.

MCAs work differently than other types of funding like 7(a) Guaranteed Loans or other traditional lending options. Here's what you need to know about how MCAs work:

• Different lenders: Merchant cash advances are available from direct online lenders like Bluerock Options, not traditional banks. These lenders have different approval requirements that make it easier for businesses that don't have an established relationship with a lender to qualify, including businesses that don't meet the strict approval requirements of these lenders, younger businesses, and businesses in riskier industries.
• Simpler application: MCAs have a much shorter application, with less restrictive approval requirements and no collateral required. Simply submit a short online form and the lender will contact you to finish the application. Depending on how quickly you are able to supply the requested information, you could receive your funding in as little as one business day. This makes MCAs ideal for businesses that need working capital fast, or who don't have the time to navigate the complicated application process of a bank or the SBA.
• Funding amount: Up to $500,000 is available. Funding amounts are based on your future sales and not just your credit history.
• Repayment: Instead of set monthly payments, MCA payments are automatically deducted from your daily or weekly credit and debit card sales. Payment amounts are based on your sales, so they'll be higher on days when you have higher sales, and lower on days when you have fewer sales.
• Uses: There are no restrictions on how merchant cash advance funding is used, but it is typically best used to support growth initiatives that will increase your revenue, such as purchasing inventory or raw materials in bulk, boosting your marketing, investing in training and continuing education, or taking advantage of time-sensitive opportunities to grow.

MCAs offer a number of advantages that can help businesses recover and grow as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Here are 6 reasons to consider a merchant cash advance:

Depending on how quickly you are able to supply the requested paperwork, you could receive your funding in as little as one business day. The SBA and banks, on the other hand, can take weeks or months to approve your applicatio

Traditional lenders generally prefer to grant loans to wealthy business owners with property, excluding many deserving small business owners and preventing them from accessing the funding they need to recover and continue to grow. A down payment is also often required.

Merchant cash advances do not require collateral or a down payment. Instead, approvals are based more on your business's future earning potential.

Alternative lenders provide financing based on the revenue of a business, with more emphasis on the future potential of your business, and not just your credit and financial history. Your credit score will be considered, but it will be considered alongside other indicators of your business's financial health, making MCA funding accessible to more businesses who might not meet the strict requirements of the SBA or other traditional lenders.

Traditional lenders often require up to three years worth of detailed personal and business financial documentation. Alternative lenders, on the other hand, require businesses to be in operation for a minimum of six months, which means younger businesses that can't get funding from other sources may be able to access the funding they need from direct online lenders.

Traditional loans are typically repaid in set monthly instalments, without the flexibility to change the payment amount or schedule.

MCA payments are automatically deducted from your business's daily or weekly debit and credit care sales, with payments based on sales amounts. Payments will be higher on days or weeks with more sales, and lower on days and weeks with fewer sales. This flexibility can be beneficial to businesses who are recovering from COVID-19 closures because they won't need to worry about being able to make a set monthly payment in months with lower sales or tighter cash flow.

Federal COVID-19 relief programs and other traditional lending products often restrict how funds can be used-PPP funding, for example, was only forgivable if a certain percentage was used to cover payroll costs.

There are no restrictions on how MCA funding can be used, which means small business owners can use their funding however they want to recover from COVID-19 and continue to grow. Keep reading to learn how to use a merchant cash advance for COVID-19 recovery.

Here are some of the most popular ways to use MCA funding:

Lack of working capital or cash flow is the most common challenge faced by small businesses in any industry. Uncontrollable global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as normal operational challenges like long accounts receivable periods, predictable seasonal changes in revenue, unplanned employee turnover, and other unexpected expenses can all put additional strain on your business's cash flow.

Merchant cash advance funding can help fill these gaps, providing you with the working capital you need to maintain normal operations when cash flow is tight.

Unexpected expenses like onboarding new employees or repairing equipment can create cash flow challenges that may make it hard to maintain normal operations or continue to grow. MCA funding can be used to cover unexpected expenses like hiring and training new employees or repairing costly equipment so you can keep operating as usual without putting your growth plans on the back burner.

There are no restrictions on how merchant cash advances are used, but MCA funding is typically best used to support growth initiatives that will increase your revenue, such as:

• Purchasing inventory in bulk to reduce costs, or to stock up before your busy season or an upcoming promotion without straining your cash flow before profits start rolling in
• Purchasing raw materials to bid for or get started on large projects before clients pay
• Boosting marketing and advertising to attract new customers and clients
• Hiring new employees so you can offer new services or expand your team and grow your business
• Purchasing new equipment
• Remodelling or expanding your space
• Investing in training and education to open up new revenue streams, enable you to offer more services, and continue to grow

Many small businesses were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic-nearly half of businesses surveyed in a recent study by PNAS experienced temporary closures, and three quarters of those surveyed had enough cash on hand to last 2 months or less. With federal funding provided by the CARES Act, including PPP funding, no longer available, many small business owners are in a tough spot as the pandemic continues and they begin the process of recovering and continue to grow.

Alternative funding like merchant cash advances is easier to access than traditional funding options like SBA 7(a) Guaranteed Loans and bank loans from traditional lenders. With flexible approval requirements and a streamlined application process, direct online lenders like Bluerock Options are making more funding available to small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, in some cases in as little as one business day.

The holiday season has come and gone and tax season is close on its heels. While you focus on rebuilding your business for the new year and the "new normal", getting your annual tax return ready can easily slip to the bottom of your to-do list. Starting your tax return as early as possible in the new year can help you get ahead of the curve in Q1, especially if you plan to apply for funding to help kickstart your recovery.

Tax laws change regularly, and there are new deductions available in 2021 to help businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two important pieces of legislation for small businesses in the United States to be aware of when filing their 2020 tax return:

1. Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): This Act requires that certain small- and mid-sized businesses provide employees with paid sick leave and expanded family leave should they or a family member become ill with coronavirus. The Act includes a refundable tax credit for any COVID-19-related sick and/or family leave.
2. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES): In addition to popular programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, the CARES Act also includes the Employee Retention credit for certain employers.

Let's take a closer look at how each of these two Acts will affect your 2020 tax filing.

The FFCRA provides businesses with tax credits to cover part of the cost of providing employees with paid sick leave and extended family and medical leave for reasons relating to COVID-19. How much you can claim as a credit depends on why an employee who took leave was required to quarantine, and can be applied to expenses incurred between April 1 and December 31, 2020.

The credit can be claimed on federal employment tax returns, but employers may benefit more quickly by using the credit to reduce their federal employment tax deposits. If there are insufficient federal employment taxes available to cover the amount of the credits owed, an eligible employer can request an advance payment from the IRS by submitting Form 7200.

To claim this tax credit, you must retain records and documentation related to and supporting each employee's leave, plus Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) and Form 7200 (Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19).

In addition to relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, the CARES act also included two tax programs for employers:

• The Employee Retention Tax Credit
• Employer tax deferrals

The Employee Retention Tax Credit encourages businesses to keep employees on the payroll during COVID-19 related closures or reductions in service

The credit covers 50% of qualified wages up to $10,000 for a maximum refund per employee of $5,000 for the year 2020. The total amount you can claim under the Employee Retention Tax Credit depends on the size of your business.

The Employee Retention Tax Credit is available to:

• Businesses that were fully or partially suspended in 2020 by government order due to COVID-19
• Businesses that experienced a significant decline in gross receipts-specifically, if their gross receipts for a quarter were less than 50% compared the same quarter in 2019

The credit is not available to self-employed individuals or local, state, or government employers. It's also not available to businesses who received a PPP loan.

For immediate benefits, the Employee Retention Tax Credit can be claimed against payroll tax deposits that are otherwise required to be paid. If the credit available exceeds the deposits owed, employers can file Form 7200.

The CARES act also includes employer tax deferrals to help businesses cover the cost of paying Social Security taxes. While not a tax credit, the employer tax deferrals included in the CARES act allow employers to defer payment of Social Security taxes on employee wages without penalty for wages paid from March 27 to December 31, 2020.

All employers, including self-employed individuals, are eligible for this tax deferral program.

Find out what credits you're eligible for

There are currently no tax credits or refunds available to small businesses operating in Canada, but there are some tax changes related to relief programs that Canadian small business owners should be aware of:

• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS): Employers who experience a drop in revenue as a result of COVID-19 may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their employees' wages. CEWS income is taxable, and must be reported on your Annual Return of Income when calculating taxable income.
• Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS): CERS is available to Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, and charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to COVID-19 to cover their commercial rent or property expenses. Like CEWS, CERS income is taxable and must be reported on your Annual Return of Income when calculating taxable income.

Employers are also responsible for additional reporting on T4 Statement of Remuneration Paid forms for the 2020 tax year. Additional reporting applies to all employers (not just employers who accessed COVID-19 relief programs) to help the Canada Revenue Agency validate payments made under CEWS and other benefits.

Many small business lenders require you to submit detailed tax documentation and other financial records when you apply for funding. If you intend to apply for funding from the SBA, commercial lenders, or alternative lenders in 2021, preparing and filing your 2020 tax return as early as possible will put you in a stronger position and may positively influence your chance of approval.

The SBA and commercial lenders will require up-to-date tax documentation, as well as detailed tax documentation from previous years. Alternative lenders have more flexible approval requirements and may not require detailed tax documentation depending on your business's overall health, as well as the type of funding and the amount you are applying for.

Preparing your 2020 tax filing can also help you gain a better understanding of your business's current financial status, which can in turn help you create a realistic plan for how you'll recover and continue to grow in 2021. Alternative funding from direct online lenders like Bluerock Options® can help you access the working capital you need to achieve your long- and short-term goals. With loans as small as $3,000 up to $500,000 alternative lenders offer a number of advantages over traditional lenders like banks and SBA loans, including:

• Easier qualification criteria with less paperwork to gather
• Faster review and approvals, with approval in as little as 2-5 business hours and funding in a little as 1 business day
• No restrictions on how your funds are used-use them for payroll, everyday operating expenses, or to kickstart new ideas
• A variety of funding options are available to suit your business's needs, including merchant cash advances, small business loans, invoice factoring, collateral loans, and business lines of credit
• Businesses with low credit can receive funding. Instead of focusing on your credit score, our Funding Advisors will review the overall health and potential of your business
• Businesses in high-risk industries can also receive funding

Over nine weeks between April 26 and June 27, 2020, the United States Census Bureau conducted a weekly survey of small business owners to measure changes in business conditions during the early phase of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal of this first phase was to collect detailed information about small business-specific initiatives such as the Paycheck Protection Program, as well as data relating to current business status, location closures, changes in employment use of federal assistance programs, and expectations for future operations.

We've reviewed the data and created a series of fact sheets to help you understand the state of small business in the United States over the course of the pandemic.

Educational Services (NAICS 61), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (NAICS 71), Accommodation and Food Services (NAICS 72), and Other Services (NAICS 81) were most likely to be negatively impacted, including:

• Overall impact: Accommodation and Food Services and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation businesses were the most likely to experience a large or moderate negative effect, with both industries scoring over the national average of 85.5% with scores of 94.1% and 93.8% respectively. The negative impact felt by businesses in these industries remained relatively stable over the nine week survey period.

• Decreased revenue: Educational Services and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (NAICS 71) businesses were the most likely to experience a decrease in revenue. Both businesses experienced some recovery of revenue over the survey period, with 84.1% of educational businesses and 80.2% of arts and entertainment businesses reporting a loss in revenue in week 1 compared to 59.7% and 53.1% reporting a decrease in week 9 of the survey period. Both industries also reported a slight increase in revenue over the course of the survey period, suggesting modest recovery.

• Temporary closures: Compared to the national average of 28.5%, Educational Services businesses were the most likely to experience a temporary closure with 58% of businesses reporting a temporary closure, followed by Arts, Entertainment and Recreation with 56% businesses in this industry reporting a closure. Both industries experienced a steady recovery, with 72.2% of educational businesses and 70.2% of arts, entertainment and recreation businesses reporting closures in the first week of the survey period compared to 45.6% and 39.8% in the final week.

• Decreases in employees and employee hours: Accommodation and Food Services and Educational Services were the most likely to report a decrease in paid employees, with 28.3% and 22.6% of businesses in these industries reporting a decrease over the survey period compared to the national average of 16.1%. Educational Services businesses were also the most likely to report a decrease in hours worked by paid employees.

• Limited or no cash on hand: Accommodation and Food Services and Other Services businesses were the most likely to report having cash on hand to cover operations for 2 weeks or less, or no cash available at all. Nearly 1/3 of Accommodation and Food Services business had less than two weeks of cash on hand or no cash at all, compared to the national average of less than ⅕ of all businesses.

• Missing loan and other payments: Accommodation and Food Services and Other Services businesses were most likely to miss loan payments, with 16.6% and 10.5% of businesses reporting missed loan payments. These industries were also the most likely to miss other payments, such as rent or utilities, with 37.5% and 27% of businesses reporting missed payments.

• Requesting and receiving assistance: Accommodation and Food Services businesses were the most likely to request PPP, EIDL, and SBA Loan Forgiveness, with 73.7% of businesses receiving PPP, 26.6% receiving EIDL, and 16.7% receiving Loan Forgiveness-more than any other industry. Other Services were the second most likely to apply for EIDL and Loan Forgiveness, with 24.3% receiving EIDL and 7.9% receiving SBA Loan Forgiveness. Accommodation and Food Services, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, Other Services, and Educational Services were also the most likely to request funding from banks, family and friends, self, and other sources.

• Future expectations: Arts, Entertainment and Recreation and Educational Services have the most realistic outlook, with 72.6% and 72.1% of businesses in these industries expecting to return to normal operations in 4-6 months or longer. Accommodation and Food Services and Educational Services are the least optimistic and are the most likely to report that they never expect to return to normal operations.

Utilities, Finance and Insurance, and Professional, Scientific and Technical businesses weathered the early stages of the pandemic well compared to other industries. Utilities and Finance and Insurance businesses were the most likely to report experiencing no impact, but there was a large disparity between the two industries-nearly half of utilities businesses reported experiencing no impact, while just under 20% of finance and insurance businesses reported the same.

These industries, along with a few others that will be noted below, had the strongest scores in several areas surveyed:

• Stable revenue: Utilities and Finance and Insurance were most likely to experience no change in revenue.

• Temporary closures: Utilities and Manufacturing were the least likely to experience a temporary closure.

• Changes in employees and employee hours: 93.9% of Utilities and 91.9% of Finance and Insurance businesses reported no change in the number of paid employees. Real Estate and Rental and Leasing and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services were the most likely to report no change in hours worked by paid employees.

• Strong cash on hand: Finance and Insurance and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services had the strongest cash on hand, with 66.5% and 64.3% of businesses in these industries reporting having cash on hand to support operations for 1-3 months or longer.

• Loan and other payments: Utilities and Finance and Insurance businesses were the least likely to miss loan and other payments, with over 95% of businesses in these industries reporting no missed payments of any kind during the survey period.

• Requesting and receiving assistance: Utilities and Finance and Insurance businesses were least likely to request assistance, with 61.8% and 37.7% reporting that they did not apply for funding of any kind during the initial survey period. These industries were also the most likely to report not receiving funding.

In our first report on the Census Bureau's Small Business Pulse survey, we noted that things were not as dire as many feared-while over 85% of businesses reported a moderate or large negative impact, 71.5% did not experience a closure, and more than ¾ did not experience a decrease in paid employees.

Our continued analysis demonstrates that Retail Trade (NAICS 44-45), Information (NAICS 51), and paradoxically Accommodation and Food Services (NAICS 72), were the most likely to experience a positive impact based on revenue, paid employees, employee hours, and future expectations.

• Increased revenue: With 25% of businesses reporting an increase, Retail Trade was the most likely to experience an increase in revenue. Despite being the most likely to experience a negative impact, Accommodation and Food Services were the second most likely to report increased revenue at 21% The overall increase in revenue for accommodation and food services businesses is attributable to significant recovery of revenue over the course of the survey period, with 8.4% of businesses reporting an increase in week one compared to a 30.3% increase in week nine, and does not indicate the overall loss of revenue that was experienced by nearly two thirds of businesses in this industry.

• Increase in paid employees: Accommodation and Food Services businesses demonstrated a strong recovery were the most likely to report an increase in paid employees over the survey period, reflecting the strength and speed of their recovery-47.2% of businesses in this industry reported a decrease in paid employees in the first week of the survey period compared to just 20.9% in the final week. 7.4% reported an increase in the first week, compared to 20% reporting an increase in the ninth week. Retail Trade and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services were the next most likely to report an increase in paid employees, with 10.2% of businesses in these industries reporting an increase over the survey period.

• Increase in employee hours: 20% of Accommodation and Food Services and 13.5% of Retail Trade businesses reported an increase in hours worked by paid employees. These increases strengthened over the survey period, with 23.9% of Accommodation and Food Services and 12.8% of Retail Trade businesses reporting an increase in the final week compared to 9.2% and 8.4% in the first week of the survey period.

• Future expectations: Construction and Utilities have the most optimistic outlook, with 27.5% and 23.2% of businesses in these industries expecting to return to normal operations in three months or less.

While some industries experienced a positive effect and some were more significantly impacted than others, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are widespread. Review our detailed findings on the overall impact, revenue, cash on hand, and more in our comprehensive reports:

• Overall Impact by Industry
• Change in Revenue by Industry
• Temporary Closures by Industry
• Change in Employees by Industry
• Change in Employee Hours by Industry
• Cash on Hand by Industry
• Missed Loan Payments by Industry
• Missed Other Payments by Industry
• Loan Requests by Industry
• Loans Received by Industry
• Future Expectations by Industry

Between working with reduced workforces, limited cash on hand, and the expiration of federal funding programs, many businesses don't have access to the working capital they need to manage increases in operational costs.

If you didn't receive federal funding or have run out of PPP or EIDL funding, alternative funding is available through direct online lenders like Bluerock Options. With easier qualification criteria, faster review and approval, and no restrictions on how your funds are used, alternative lenders can help you access the working capital you need, with loans as small as $3,000 up to $500,000.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique challenges for marketing a small business in 2021-smaller budgets, fewer resources if your staff is stretched thin thanks to capacity limits or reduced workforces, less foot traffic, and constantly changing conditions. Despite these difficulties, the pandemic has also highlighted new opportunities for small business owners, particularly as the movement to "shop local" grows and communities across the country choose to patronize small businesses.

The pandemic isn't going away, but your audience is there and ready to buy-you just need to make sure they know about your business in a time of social distancing when your traditional marketing methods may not be available to you, and that means you may need to explore different marketing channels to find new ways to reach your audience.

In this post, we'll explore a number of small business marketing ideas for 2021, including:

• Focusing on your existing customers
• Embracing digital channels, including your website, social media, email marketing, monitoring and managing online reviews, hosting online workshops and events and more.
• Location-based marketing
• Co-marketing

Let's jump in.

On average, it costs 5 times more to acquire a new customer than it does to close an existing one. As the pandemic continues, don't lose sight of your existing customers-reward your most loyal customers by offering deals and incentives, and keep an eye open for opportunities for repeat purchasing, upselling, and cross-selling. Update and reinforce loyalty programs and encourage purchases by engaging with your existing customers online using social media ads, email marketing, or other tactics.

When it comes to online marketing, your business's website is your most important touchpoint-it shows potential customers and clients who you are and why they should buy from you, what you offer, where you are, and how they can get in touch with you. If you haven't already made changes to your website, there are a few things you should do to make sure you're ready for 2021:

• Set up a secure e-commerce store so you can sell your products or schedule services online. The sooner you can create an online store or booking service the better, especially as the 2020 holiday season ramps up. Make sure your online store is secure-savvy hackers are now targeting smaller businesses who may not be able to afford dedicated cybersecurity, especially with so many businesses making the jump to online retail. Look for a website builder with existing security infrastructure, such as WordPress or Shopify, or hire someone with strong security credentials to build your online store for you.
• Make sure your website works well on mobile devices. According to eMarketer, over 44% of e-commerce sales will be made on a mobile device this holiday season. 50% of online shoppers won't make a purchase from a brand with a poorly designed mobile site, so it's more important than ever to ensure that your website is easy to navigate with a painless checkout experience.
• Focus on your search engine optimization (SEO)-"SEO" is a fancy way of describing the actions you can take to make it easy for people to find your website when they Google something you can help with. There are a number of SEO tactics you can employ depending on your capability and your budget, from simple updates to major modifications. The most important thing to remember is that your website should provide a good user experience, which means it should be easy to navigate, load quickly, and work well on mobile devices. Don't be afraid to work with a marketing agency that specializes in SEO if you don't feel comfortable tackling these tasks yourself.
• Consider installing a chatbot on your website so it's easy to connect with your customers and answer their questions. If you can automate it, your chatbot can even provide 24/7 service, including vital information and instant answers to certain questions such as "when are you open?", "do you offer delivery?", and "what safety protocols do you have in place?"

People are spending more time at home-and on social media-than ever, which means it's even more important for your business to be present and active on the same social media channels as your customers.

Social media can help improve your brand awareness, build a community, connect with influencers, and engage with your audience on a more personal level. There are a number of ways small businesses can use these platforms to reach their audience and even generate sales:

• Share updates about your business, such as hours of operation, changes in services, and how you are keeping everyone safe.
• Share blog posts and other content your audience will find interesting, entertaining, or helpful.
• Create shoppable Facebook or Instagram posts by tagging products you sell to make it as easy as possible for users to buy directly from your social media profile.
• Let your followers know about any charity or community work you're doing.
• Use Stories to take your customers behind the scenes, launch new products or services, share exclusive discount codes, and announce promotions. You can also use Stories to re-post your customer's photos, show your products or services in action, and even post polls, Q&As, and quizzes.
• Consider paid ad campaigns to promote your products and services directly to your target audience.

Social media is also an important customer service channel, especially as people embrace new ways to reach businesses without setting foot in a store. Keep an eye on your social media inboxes and respond to customer queries as quickly as you can. You can even set up automated responses to help manage frequently asked questions and simple queries.

Email is a great way to keep in touch with existing or potential customers, especially in a pandemic-Adweek reports that email revenue has increased 86% year over year in 2020. There are a number of ways you can connect with your audience via email:

• Send engaging order confirmation emails that include links to relevant information or articles, take advantage of opportunities to upsell, or ask customers to leave a review online.
• Reward loyal customers by sharing exclusive deals and personalized communications.
• Create a welcome series for people who subscribe to your email list. To encourage more sign-ups, you could even offer a 10% or 15% discount to any new subscriber.
• Follow up with people who abandon their cart mid-purchase to encourage them to complete their purchase.

Creating an email marketing system may require you to invest in new software to help collect and organize contact information, as well as create and send the emails. If you've been operating under restrictions or have experienced a decrease in revenue and don't have the cash on hand to adopt new software, an alternative small business loan can help supply the quick working capital you need to kickstart your email marketing program.

You may not be able to talk to your customers in person, but you can still talk to them online! A blog is the perfect place to answer questions, share your expertise, and offer advice that relates to what your business offers. While blogging most likely won't generate you immediate revenue, consistently publishing posts will help generate revenue in the long-term.

Before you start blogging, think about your target audience-what makes them tick? What do they like to read or learn about? What are their values? With your audience in mind, you can create content that shares their values and addresses their needs, creating a strong user experience that can ultimately lead to more sales. Bonus: blogging is also great for search engine optimization, and over time will make it easier for new customers to find your website.

Analytics measurement tools help you understand how people use your website or interact with your ads, as well as who visits and who buys (or doesn't buy) so you can make updates and market your business accordingly. This information can supply a number of insights for marketing a small business in 2021, including:

• New marketing opportunities, such as which social media platform sends the most traffic to your site, or what type of visitor is most likely to buy
• Problems with your website, such as slow load times on mobile devices
• Which products or services are the most popular and which are the most profitable
• What blog posts people like the most
• Common questions or things people search for often

If you haven't already, consider installing analytics tracking so you can get a better understanding of who's visiting your website and how they navigate around. Google Analytics is the industry leader-it's free to install and will start collecting data right away. If you already have an analytics measurement tool installed but you don't pay attention to it, start reviewing your website trends weekly or monthly so you can make informed decisions about how to market your business. Check out Google's Analytics Academy for detailed tutorials and lessons on using Google Analytics.

Search engine ads are another great way to reach your audience in 2021, and you don't need to be a search marketing expert to take advantage of this channel. If you aren't sure how to get started, Google Ads offers AI-powered Smart campaigns to help simplify the process of managing search ads. Google Shopping listings are also free for businesses in 2021.

If you're ready to make a big investment in Google Ads but don't have the know-how to manage your own campaigns, you may want to work with an agency who specializes in this type of marketing. An alternative small business loan can help supply the working capital you need to get started.

When real people advocate for your brand, you appear more trustworthy to future customers. Asking your existing customers for a review also doesn't require the same level of investment as paid ads or rebuilding your website, making this a beneficial option for small businesses with smaller marketing budgets.

Don't stop at just asking for reviews-respond to them as well, including 1-3 star reviews. Responding to negative reviews is especially important because it shows prospective customers that you care about creating a positive experience and that you'll work hard to make sure all your customers are satisfied.

Read our advice for getting more reviews online.

Hosting online classes is especially popular for fitness businesses, but some retailers have also begun to offer fun classes like tea tastings, build-your-own terrarium seminars, or guided cocktail hours complete with supplies delivered right to your door. In addition to giving you an opportunity to teach and share your expertise, creative events like these are a great way to stay in touch with your audience in an engaging way that also boosts sales while people are stuck at home.

Augmented reality has become very popular and is growing as a marketing tool. If you have the resources and ability to explore augmented reality, it can greatly enhance the online shopping experience. Ikea, for example, uses AR to let users visualize how a piece of furniture will look in their home. Other apparel brands have also used AR to make shopping for clothing online easier by allowing people to "try on" an item before purchase.

More than a billion people use Google Maps every month and 60% of smartphone users have contacted a business directly using search results. It's particularly important for local businesses to make sure they can be found on Google Maps and other similar platforms, especially if you only operate in your city and don't sell products online.

Start by signing up, claiming your business profile, and verifying your business through Google My Business. Once you've verified your profile, you can update your service availability, business hours, and contact information, and even post photos of your business. Be sure to include any relevant COVID-19 information such as whether you're offering curbside pickup, takeout or delivery, or online appointments. You can also add a post to update customers about your safety and hygiene practices so they can feel safe if they do decide to visit your location.

Best of all, it's totally free.

Can you work with another local business that isn't a direct competitor, but which offers a product or service with a similar audience as your own? Collaborating to cross-promote, host contests, and more can help strengthen your community presence and support other entrepreneurs in your area.

Time is at a minimum for many business owners as they struggle to keep up with the constantly changing realities of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, often with reduced workforces and limited cash flow. Investing in your online presence, tools to organize your marketing efforts, or experts to help rebuild or improve your website or manage online marketing campaigns can save you time and keep your efforts on track, but you may not have the working capital available to support these goals.

If you've run out of PPP or EIDL funding or never received any in the first place, alternative funding from direct online lenders like Bluerock Options can help you access the working capital you need to promote your business online and in your community, whether you need a small loan of $3,000 or funding up to $500,000.

Alternative lenders offer a number of advantages over traditional lenders like banks and SBA loans, including:

• Easier qualification criteria with less paperwork to gather
• Faster review and approvals, with approval in as little as 2-5 business hours and funding in a little as 1 business day
• No restrictions on how your funds are used-use them for payroll, everyday operating expenses, or to kickstart new ideas
• A variety of funding options are available to suit your business's needs, including merchant cash advances, small business loans, invoice factoring, collateral loans, and business lines of credit
• Businesses with low credit can receive funding. Instead of focusing on your credit score, our Funding Advisors will review the overall health and potential of your business
• Businesses in high-risk industries can also receive funding

Thanks to the ongoing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's holiday season will look very different from any we've seen before, especially for retail business owners. As shoppers continue to favor shopping online over browsing and buying in-store, the plans you so carefully made earlier this year to generate more foot traffic-and more revenue-this coming season have gone completely out the window. So what do you do now that the holiday season is just around the corner?

A recent report by Think With Google indicates that the pandemic will affect how half of shoppers plan to shop for the holidays, but exactly how shopping habits will differ this year is unknown and difficult to predict. This makes it very tough for retailers to plan for what is often one of the busiest and most profitable times of year.

Here's what the Think with Google report predicts:

1. Changes in demand: Demand is especially difficult to forecast this year-pent-up demand may make people more willing to buy, but on the other hand, many people have less to spend thanks to business closures and job losses. One thing is certain: shoppers will be buying more online this holiday season, whether for delivery to their doorstep, curbside pickup, or buy online pick-up in store (known as "BOPIS")-47% of planned shoppers report that they'll use options to buy online and pick up in store or curbside, and 53% of shoppers saying they'll choose to shop at stores that offer contactless shopping.
2. Prioritizing local businesses: According to Think with Google, 66% of planned shoppers will shop more at local small businesses than last year, especially as interest in curbside pickup grows and shipping and delivery systems for larger retailers are stressed.
3. Fewer shopping trips at different times: 80% of planned shoppers intend to consolidate their shopping to make fewer trips than in the past, and 70% of shoppers say they will plan their shopping earlier to avoid crowds.
4. Shopping for deals: Reductions in household cash flow may drive more customers to shop for deals than previous years.

While most retailers begin preparing for the holiday season as early as spring, this year's far-from-usual circumstances may have left some business owners unsure how to plan. Whether you're starting from scratch or modifying your pre-pandemic plans, now is the time to make sure you have all the kinks ironed out-not in November when holiday shopping will be in full swing.

With shoppers more discerning about how and where they spend their money this holiday season, the last thing you want to do is disappoint those who do shop with you. That means that your ability to provide a seamless online shopping experience or high-quality (ideally contactless) services-and then deliver packages on time-will be paramount in 2020, especially as the pandemic continues.

Here are 8 things to consider when planning for the 2020 holiday season:

Most inventory decisions that impact holiday performance are made months before the festive season looms, but this year's unique challenges may have made planning and managing your holiday inventory even harder than usual: changes in the shopping environment and the general shift towards online purchasing may make it tough for retailers to move holiday inventory purchased earlier in the year, but on the other hand, supply chain challenges and shipping delays may prevent retailers from accessing the inventory they need for the holiday season. Despite these challenges, accurately managing your inventory is more important than ever in 2020.

67% of shoppers say they plan to confirm online that an item is in stock before going to buy it, so as a retailer, one of the best things you can do for your shoppers is to provide an easy online shopping experience that clearly specifies if an item is in stock before customers make a purchase.

Many retail businesses hire additional staff to help out during the holidays, but physical distancing regulations and capacity restrictions may make it tough for you to have more employees in your store at one time. If you have a physical location that can't accommodate a larger staff, ask what you can do to make it easy for people to shop without stressing your employees, such as encouraging shoppers to buy online and pickup in-store or scheduling personal shopping appointments.

If you do plan to take on additional staff, you should also give some thought to how you will keep your employees safe and healthy. Consider your PPE needs, whether staff can safely physically distance, or if it's time to install plexiglass safety barriers around your checkout area.

According to Think With Google, more than ⅓ of shoppers who normally shop in store for Black Friday say they won't this year. Chances are, many holiday shoppers will continue to avoid in-store shopping throughout the season, but there's no way to accurately predict what the holiday season will bring. Use these next few weeks to create a plan for how you'll maintain physical distancing in your store (assuming you'll have more visitors than you currently do), and consider creative ideas for limiting the number of people in your store, such as:

• Offering free local delivery
• Specifying one-way aisle traffic, installing floor decals and hanging signage, or widening aisles to permit social distancing
• Altering your floor plan and merchandising to encourage a quick in-and-out visit rather than enticing people to stay and browse

Is your business usually busier at certain times of day? If so, can you do anything to reduce or redistribute your foot traffic throughout the day, such as offering curbside pickup or free local delivery? Shopping by appointment or scheduling pickup windows can also help limit in-store foot traffic during peak hours.

In addition to shopping more online, people may opt to begin their holiday shopping earlier this year, especially if they typically leave their gift-buying till the last minute. Getting an earlier start gives shoppers more time to account for longer shipping estimates, wait for items to come back in stock, or find alternatives in case the items they want aren't available.

To take advantage of early bird shoppers, some big box retailers have already started offering holiday promotions in a bid to encourage safe social distancing and avoid crowds looking for deals.

For smaller retailers, creating a strong, easy-to-use e-commerce website, or a least a place where local visitors can review (if not purchase) your products online, can make it easier for you to reach these customers and take advantage of changing patterns of demand.

With more people buying online, there will be greater-than-usual stress on delivery and shipping networks around the world. To make sure your customers have a good experience, clearly communicate shipping timelines and consider adding a liberal buffer in case there are delays, especially as you get closer to the holiday season.

Curbside pickup is also a good solution for local shoppers.

Whatever delivery method you opt for, now is the time to prepare for the expected surge in online shopping by making sure all your employees are trained on how to prepare packages for shipment, as well as how to handle BOPIS or curbside pickup.

Retailers should also factor in shipping costs when planning for the holiday season-parcel shippers like UPS and FedEx always add holiday surcharges, but these surcharges will likely be higher this year as global shipping networks are taxed by surges in residential drop offs. USPS has also announced that they'll be adding holiday surcharges for the first time ever in 2020.

Is it easy for your customers to reach you with questions if they aren't coming into your store? Setting up a chatbot on your website or on Facebook Messenger makes it easy for customers to contact you, and can be a vital channel for helping potential customers get answers to simple questions about your business, such as hours of operation or delivery options.

Advertising your business on social media and other online platforms can help get your business in front of new eyes or remind past customers that you are around to help this holiday season. Social media ads are a great place to highlight features like contactless purchases, curbside pickup, or local delivery to help buyers make purchases with confidence.

Shoppers may also be more easily swayed by promotions this year, especially if they've experienced a decrease or loss of income. If you run a sale or promotion, advertise it to your audience so they know there are deals available.

From building a website to training your staff on how to fulfil online orders, adapting to the unknown reality of the 2020 holiday season requires working capital. If you've been operating under restrictions and have experienced a decrease in revenue or don't have the cash flow to promote your business or invest in holiday inventory or new strategies to manage foot traffic, there are many funding options available to you, including federal and state funding and alternative online lenders like Bluerock Options.

Alternative lenders offer a number of advantages for businesses impacted by COVID-19, including:

• Easier qualification criteria with less paperwork to gather
• Faster review and approvals, with approval in as little as 2-5 business hours and funding in a little as 1 business day
• No restrictions on how your funds are used-use them for inventory, PPE, advertising, or hiring additional staff
• A variety of funding options are available to suit your business's needs, including merchant cash advances, small business loans, invoice factoring, collateral loans, and business lines of credit
• Businesses with low credit can receive funding. Instead of focusing on your credit score, our Funding Advisors will review the overall health and potential of your business
• Businesses in high-risk industries can also receive funding

There's a lot we don't know and can't predict about the 2020 holiday season, but there's one thing we do know for certain: people will be buying more online.

As a retailer, the most important thing you can do to ensure your success this holiday season is to make sure you have a functional, easy-to-use e-commerce website with up-to-date inventory information so you can easily sell items to customers in your area without relying on foot traffic, or even connect with new buyers around the country. If you don't sell items online, make sure potential customers can find all the information they need about your product or service online-almost 75% of shoppers say they will browse online for gift ideas, not in-store.

Retailers should also:

• Offer curbside pickup or contactless buying if they aren't doing so already.
• Update their website and social media profiles regularly with current hours of operation, special and promotions, and any other information their customers might find useful.
• Consider how to manage crowds. What can you do to enforce or maintain physical distancing in your store? Can you realistically limit how many people are in your store or facility at any time? Is it time to adopt floor decals or one-way aisles? Should you hire staff to help ensure proper mask use before shoppers enter?
• Promote early and often. Many shoppers are likely to be more cost-conscious this holiday season, and they may be more motivated by a good deal than in previous years. If you do offer a promotion, advertise it early and remind your customers often so you stay top of mind.

Many retailers may not have the capital they need to get ready for the upcoming holiday season. Federal and state funding options are available, but many businesses have already exhausted these funding options. If you've run out of federal funding or didn't get approved in the first place, you still have a number of options, including alternative online lenders like Bluerock Options.

Small businesses are reopening across the country, but it's hardly business as usual. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, business owners are faced with a number of difficult decisions about how best to reopen, from immediate concerns like how to keep employees and customers safe to forward-thinking considerations about how to prepare for future disruptions.

Work environments differ greatly depending on the nature of your business, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to reopening or resuming operations safely. Whether you can reopen at all depends on a number of factors, including:

• The current status of stay-at-home orders in your jurisdiction
• The number of COVID-19 cases in your area
• Whether or not your business has a physical location
• Your ability to implement and enforce physical distancing at your facility
• The level of contact you and your employees will have with customers and other employees

To make things even more complicated, health and safety restrictions are constantly changing and vary by jurisdiction. Combined with widespread uncertainty about the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, this can make repening your business safely a difficult task to navigate.

There are two keys to reopening successfully and navigating any future disruptions:

1. Flexibility: The situation could change quickly and flexibility will help you adapt to any unexpected shifts.
2. Understanding: Stress levels are high and your employees and customers are taking a risk whenever they enter your business. An extra dose understanding will help you adopt compassionate policies that support and safeguard your staff and clientele.

Keep reading to get our expert advice for reopening safely, including safety measures all businesses must take, additional hazards and safety measures to consider, and tips for a smooth and successful reopening.

Regardless of what industry you operate in, reopening your business does not mean a return to normal operations-even if it's safe for your business to open its doors, there will be fundamental changes to how your business operates while the pandemic continues, as well as after the novel coronavirus has been contained or eliminated.

When it comes to reopening, McKinsey and Company, a global business management advisor, has identified two major considerations common to all businesses:

1. Creating safety measures that are tailored to your unique business environment
2. Implementing them across the full range of your business's activities, not just on site

With these considerations in mind, all small businesses should complete the following before reopening their doors:

• Review applicable government, health, and industry guidance to ensure you are in compliance before you reopen. Nothing halts a reopening like being shut down for violating requirements.
• Evaluate your workplace for possible hazards, including travel to and from work, accessing and departing the workplace, and moving throughout the workplace. You should also consider instances when workers may come within 6 feet of another person, such as breakrooms. Ask what you can do to lessen or eliminate these hazards, such as providing PPE, reconfiguring your workplace, adjusting scheduling, or installing physical barriers.
• Train employees on the proper use of PPE.
• Create signage to inform employees and customers about distancing, mask requirements, and other safety protocols in place within your facility.
• Devise and implement enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures throughout your facility.
• Develop a plan for monitoring your employees' health and how you will handle a positive COVID-19 case after you reopen. Implement a flexible sick leave policy so it's easy for employees to stay home if they feel ill or if another family member is sick.

All small business owners are encouraged to implement as many health and safety policies and protocols as possible. In addition to the essential actions listed above, McKinsey and Co. breaks their reopening recommendations down into phases that cover all aspects of business activity, from before you reopen to after you experience a positive COVID-19 test. Proactive business owners will carefully consider these additional aspects of reopening their workplace so they can adjust quickly if local circumstances change or an employee or customer tests positive for COVID-19.

Here’s what McKinsey and Co. recommend:

• Embrace contactless or remote work: Adopt contactless services or continue to allow employees to work from home if it's possible for your business.
• Testing and symptom assessment: If widespread testing isn't available in your area, symptom screening before entry can help safeguard employees and other patrons of your business.
• Training and education: Comprehensive training and education about PPE and potential COVID-19 hazards can play a significant role in instilling safer habits among employees and customers.
• Childcare: Will your employees have access to adequate childcare, especially if schools in your area are closed?
• Mental health: Everyone is feeling the strain of months of isolation-ask what you can do to prioritize your employees' mental health as the pandemic continues, especially if they will be returning to the workplace.

• Modes of transport: Consider the various modes of transport your employees may use to get to or from work, including public transport and private vehicles.
• Staggered entry and exit: Can you adjust your employees' schedules so that crowding is minimized at entrances and exists? Can you limit the number of people in your facility at any given time by scheduling appointments or enabling widespread remote work?
• New cleaning protocols: Adopt enhanced cleaning protocols at points of entry/exit, especially for retail businesses, such as sanitizing baskets or carts or making hand sanitizer available at all doors.
• PPE: Entry and exit is an ideal time to remind employees and customers about PPE requirements such as face coverings.

• Physical distancing: Enforcing physical distancing can be easier in some environments than others. Ongoing reminders such as signage for one-way aisles, floor decals where customers should stand while they queue, loudspeaker announcements, or spaced apart tables can help encourage physical distancing throughout your facility.
• Enhanced hygiene: Additional hygiene protocols are especially important in environments where employees are required to be in close proximity. Consider actions such as sanitizing carts and equipment after each use, upgrading air filtration systems, and frequent deep cleaning for businesses like daycare centers or medical facilities.
• Workplace design: Can you redesign your workplace to prioritize health and safety, such as installing plexiglass partitions at checkouts or workstations, or redistributing cubicles to ensure physical distancing is easy to maintain?
• Consistent teams: Divide employees into teams or pods that will be in the office at the same time to reduce contact with other people. Daycares and schools could also consider splitting children up into groups who interact only with one teacher every day, with separate meal times as well as separate start and end times.
• Common spaces: Take measures to minimize or eliminate gatherings in common spaces, such as conducting video conferences across multiple rooms for large meetings, delivering food to employees' desks to avoid crowding in lunchrooms, staggering lunch breaks, and removing shared appliances from kitchens.

• Communication: If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, it's critical that you communicate post-infection processes to all levels of the organization as quickly as possible. Develop a communication plan and ensure everyone is familiar with the correct protocols before you have to address a positive test result.
• Contact tracing: Whether you use technology, manual contact tracing such as collecting contact information from customers, or both, contact tracing is essential for sustaining a safe working environment. Make sure your choice of contact tracing method is consistent with local privacy norms and standards.
• Cleaning and isolation protocols: This includes actions like deep cleaning areas that may have had virus exposure or isolating individuals who may have been exposed.
• Return to work: When can employees return to work after a positive COVID-19 test? Examples include multiple consecutive negative tests, a positive antibody test, or a two-week period of self-quarantine during which no symptoms are present.

There's often more to reopening than navigating the challenging task of creating a safe environment-for some businesses, reopening requires a major adjustment to how they operate. For example:

• Restaurants offering delivery or takeaway only
• Retail stores limiting the number of people allowed inside at one time
• Health care providers conducting appointments online
• Adjusting scheduling and working hours so fewer people are onsite at any given time

For others, reopening means embracing new technologies that help businesses stay agile in a changing environment or which provide data to help decision makers understand what customers value and want in the "new normal".

Now that we've covered safety considerations, here are 9 more practical tips for successfully resuming operations:

1. Focus on the products or services that generate the most revenue for your business before returning to full-scale operations, especially if your workforce capacity is reduced or you're working with reduced hours.
2. Identify and empower employees with strong leadership skills. These individuals will be indispensable for helping you navigate the pandemic as it continues.
3. Adopt an "action over testing" mindset. If you have an idea, put it into action rather than investing time, money, and effort into analyzing potential outcomes.
4. Regularly ask your customers for feedback so you can focus on the things that matter most to them.
5. Talk to vendors and partners before you reopen to let them know if there will be any changes to your working relationship, or to find out if there are any changes on their end so you can avoid unnecessary disruptions.
6. Ask for input from your team. What will make them feel safe as they return to work? Do they have any innovative ideas for reopening? Check in regularly to ensure all is well and give them greater peace of mind, and make it easy for employees to provide anonymous feedback if they have concerns.
7. Let your customers know what to expect. Communicate protocols and requirements clearly using signage, social media, and your website so customers know when you'll be reopening as well as what health and safety measures you've put in place.
8. Expect mistakes. No one is perfect and we are all learning how best to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in our communities. If a mistake happens, the best thing you can do is acknowledge the shortcoming and let employees and customers know what you're doing to make it right.
9. Consider your funding needs. If your business experienced a temporary closure or reduction in operations, it may be difficult to find the working capital you need to reopen, especially if you're adjusting your products or services to suit the "new normal". With approval in as little as one business day, funding from alternative lenders like Bluerock Options can help you navigate these changes quickly and with confidence.

Health and safety is the number one concern for small business owners as the country continues to reopen. But for many businesses, resuming operations means making major adjustments to how they conduct business and interact with clientele. Adjusting to meet the needs of your employees and customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic may come with additional costs that can put an additional strain on your business, but fast funding from alternative lenders can help kickstart your recovery as you get back to business.

Alternative lenders offer a number of advantages for businesses impacted by COVID-19, including:

• Easier qualification criteria with less paperwork to gather
• Faster review and approvals, with approval in as little as 2-5 business hours and funding in a little as 1 business day
• No restrictions on how your funds are used-use them for payroll, everyday operating expenses, or to kickstart new ideas
• A variety of funding options are available to suit your business's needs, including merchant cash advances, small business loans, invoice factoring, collateral loans, and business lines of credit
• Businesses with low credit can receive funding. Instead of focusing on your credit score, our Funding Advisors will review the overall health and potential of your business
• Businesses in high-risk industries can also receive funding

It's no secret that COVID-19 restrictions have presented small business owners across the country with unanticipated challenges-according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Small Business Pulse Survey, 85.5% of small businesses experienced a moderate or large negative impact between April 26 and June 27 as a result of the pandemic.

With restrictions partially or completely lifted in a number of states, many small business owners are keen to open their doors (safely, of course) and get on the road to recovery. But how do you find and hit your new stride if you're operating under ongoing restrictions?

To make matters more complicated, restrictions vary by state, ranging from severe actions, like mandating the closure of certain types of businesses, to no restrictions at all. Other restrictions include:

• Delivery and takeout only for restaurants
• Reduced opening hours
• Limits on the number of people allowed in-store
• Mandatory or recommended use of facial coverings
• Increased cleaning and sanitation protocols
• Stay at home orders

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, some business owners have also opted to implement their own restrictions or even keep their doors closed in the absence of official government mandates.

According to the CDC, the decision to reopen your business should be based on the level of disease transmission in your community, as well as your readiness to protect the health and safety of your employees and customers. For details about workplace health and safety recommendations, visit the CDC website.

Economic upheaval like what we're experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can be devastating, but it can also generate a surge of innovation as businesses are forced to get creative to find new ways to stay afloat.

McKinsey & Company, a global a business management advisor, recommends that businesses focus on four strategic areas of innovation as they reopen:

1. Rapidly recovering revenue
2. Rebuilding operations
3. Rethinking the organization
4. Faster adoption of digital strategies

Let's take a closer look at these areas.

Small businesses across the country are playing catch-up as they rebuild revenue streams and solidify their cash flow after temporary closures and reductions in business hours. Businesses can do this by:

• Adopting a start-up mindset that favors action over research and testing over analysis. If you have a new idea for your business, try it out instead of devoting weeks or months to analysis and research.
• Put people at the core of your business. Think about how your employees work best and do what you can to help them be their most productive, such as instituting flexible work policies that allow employees to work from home even if your office is open.
• Enhance or expand digital channels and embrace analytics to help you make better decisions, such as adjusting pricing or promotion strategies based on new consumer behaviors.
• Understand what customers value in the "new normal" and develop new products and experiences based on these insights.
• Identify and prioritize new revenue opportunities, such as launching targeted ad campaigns on social media to win back customers, developing new customer experiences based on health and safety, retraining your teams to support remote work, creating flexible payment terms, or automating processes whenever possible.

The pandemic has radically changed patterns of demand for products and services while also exposing trouble spots in global supply chains and service networks. McKinsey has identified five themes that are emerging as businesses adapt and rebuild their operations around these new realities:

• Redesigning operations and supply chains so they are more localized and better protected against future shocks
• Making it easier for their business to operate online, such as remote working for employees
• Increasing transparency in how the business prioritizes and spends money
• Embracing the future of work by supporting the transition to remote work and the rising need for analytical and tech support
• Shifting operations to remain competitive, such as accelerating product development, recreating the customer experience, embracing customization, and improving sustainability

Deciding who you are as a company, how to work, and how to grow will put your business in a strong position to weather the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Companies that have adapted well often have a strong identity with a shared sense of purpose that has allowed them to navigate changes in how their business works, with a greater interest in matching employee talent to the most critical challenges they are facing regardless of hierarchy or experience.

We've all moved online quickly since the start of the pandemic, whether for work or for our personal interactions. To keep up, small businesses are refocusing their digital efforts to reflect changing customer expectations by creating satisfactory ecommerce experiences and allowing customers to complete everything they need to do online, from initial research to purchasing a product to conducting returns. Businesses are also increasingly relying on data, IoT, and artificial intelligence to cope with changes and make decisions based on forecasted demand and available assets.

Here are a few practical ways for any business to keep operating under COVID-19 restrictions:

1. Focus on your online presence by improving or updating your website (or building one from scratch), or by creating fresh content that will help people find your business when they do start shopping again. Consider offering your usual services online for a reduced fee if the nature of your business allows you to do so.
2. Make sure it's easy for potential customers to find you by claiming and updating your free Google My Business profile. Take advantage of new features, such as takeout and delivery attributes, post updates, and keep your customers informed of any changes to your business.
3. Look for ways that your business can help people adapt to the new reality. Can you engage your audience online with live streams, classes, workshops, or even augmented or virtual reality?
4. Consider pivoting your product offering to serve more immediate needs, like these distillers that have shifted to producing hand sanitizer instead of liquor.
5. Investigate subscription models to create an ongoing source of revenue, such as monthly gift boxes or special access to live streamed events.
6. Collaborate with other small businesses, especially businesses with offerings that complement yours, to create new initiatives that will benefit both businesses.
7. Launch targeted social media ad campaigns to win back customers and engage with potential new customers.

8. Build a website that allows you to sell items online. People are buying online more than ever, so while it may take some up-front work and a small financial investment, you'll be able to continue selling things online once things return to normal.
9. Offer in-person or online personal shopping appointments to limit the number of people in your store at one time, prevent line-ups, and make it easier to maintain physical distancing.
10. Host shopping parties on Zoom or other video calling apps.
11. Search for temporary revenue streams, such as selling gift cards for later use. Some local organizations have created directories where customers can purchase gift cards from local businesses, enabling people to patronize these businesses without physically visiting.
12. Offer free local delivery to encourage people to purchase without having to enter your store.

13. Improve takeout and delivery services to make it easier for customers to place an order, such as creating a branded app where customers can place an order and save their favorites for fast reordering in the future.
14. Offer grocery baskets and prepared meals to encourage people to cook at home and limit food waste.
15. Host online events to engage customers if dine-in isn't available in your jurisdiction, such as live-streaming live music on patios or in closed or limited occupancy dining rooms.
16. Offer cocktail boxes and host a virtual happy hour for customers to follow along online.
17. Share recipes and cooking tips to stay top of mind and build loyalty with your loyal customers.

18. Implement flexible work policies to enable employees to continue working from home even if your office is open.
19. Maintain social connections while employees are working remotely by hosting informal huddles that don't focus on work-related topics, but instead are designed to generate a connection, combat isolation, and improve productivity.
20. Make an effort not to host too many online meetings if possible-it can be interpreted as micromanagement.

21. Improve or expand secure online appointment options even if your practice has reopened.
22. Digitize online intake forms so people can complete paperwork at home.
23. Offer online appointments to safely guide patients through self-guided treatments such as massage therapy, stretching, or strengthening.

Regardless of what kind of business you operate, all of these ideas require capital to implement. If you've been operating under restrictions and have experienced a decrease in revenue or don't have the cash flow to invest in new strategies, there are many funding options available to you, including federal and state funding and alternative online lenders like Bluerock Options.

Alternative lenders offer a number of advantages for businesses impacted by COVID-19, including:

• Easier qualification criteria with less paperwork to gather
• Faster review and approvals, with approval in as little as 2-5 business hours and funding in a little as 1 business day
• No restrictions on how your funds are used-use them for payroll, everyday operating expenses, or to kickstart new ideas
• A variety of funding options are available to suit your business's needs, including merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, collateral loans, and business lines of credit
• Businesses with low credit can receive funding. Instead of focusing on your credit score, our Funding Advisors will review the overall health and potential of your business
• Businesses in high-risk industries can also receive funding

As restrictions on business operations are partially or completely lifted across the country, many business owners are reopening their businesses and beginning the hard work of recovering from temporary closures or service reductions.

Many businesses may not have the capital they need to adapt to the new normal or invest in new products or services. Federal and state funding options are available, but many businesses have already exhausted these funding options. If you've run out of federal funding or didn't get approved in the first place, you still have a number of options, including alternative online lenders like Bluerock Options.

Over nine weeks between April 26 and June 27, 2020, the United States Census Bureau conducted a weekly survey of small business owners to measure changes in business conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal of the first phase of this weekly survey was to collect detailed information regarding small business-specific initiatives such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as data relating to:

• Current business status-Have there been changes in revenue? How much cash on hand is available? Were any loan or other payments missed?
• Location closures-Were any locations temporarily closed?
• Changes in employment-Were there any changes in the number of employees or hours worked?
• Use of federal assistance programs-How many businesses applied for federal assistance or funding from other sources? How many businesses received funding from these sources?
• Expectations for future operations-How long will it take for business operations to return to normal?

The survey also addressed disruptions in supply chain, changes to business operations, and shifts to other goods and services.

We've reviewed the data and created a series of fact sheets to help you understand the state of small business in the United States over the course of the pandemic.

View a PDF of the full COVID-19 pandemic impact report

Here's what we learned:

It will come as no surprise that the majority of businesses were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 85.5% of businesses experiencing a moderate or large negative impact and 55.2% of businesses reporting decreased revenue.

While a significant number of businesses-74% of those surveyed-experienced a decline in operating revenue in the first week of the survey, revenues stabilized somewhat by the ninth and final week of the survey period, with less than half of businesses surveyed reporting a decrease in revenue and a greater proportion of businesses reporting an increase in revenue. Similarly, the overall negative impact decreased from 51.4% in the first week to 37.7% in the final week of the survey.

Despite the widely reported overall negative impact, the state of small businesses across the nation might not be as dire as feared-71.5% of businesses did not experience a temporary closure over the survey period, 75.6% did not experience a change in number of employees, and 57.7% did not experience a change in employee hours.

The situation is also improving-41.4% of businesses reported a temporary closure in the first week of the survey compared to just 17.9% in the ninth week. Similarly, 27.5% reported a decrease in employees and 51.2% reported a decrease in employee hours in the first week, compared to 11.7% and 22.2% in the final week.

Over half of businesses surveyed-52.3%-had enough cash on hand (including financing and loans) to cover more than one month of expenses, while less than 10% had enough cash on hand to cover 1-7 business days or had no cash on hand at all. In addition, 93% of businesses surveyed did not miss loan payments, and another 83% did not miss other payments like rent, utilities, or payroll.

74.9% of businesses surveyed applied for Paycheck Protection Program funding, followed by Economic Injury Disaster Loans with 28.4% of businesses surveyed applying for these loans. PPP applications remained relatively stable over the course of the 9 week survey period, with a slight increase from 74.9% in the first week to 75.4% in the final week. 17.8% of businesses surveyed did not request funding from any source.

65.3% of businesses received PPP funding over the course of the survey period, with a significant increase in businesses receiving PPP funding by the end of the 9 week period-less than 40% received PPP funding in the first week, compared to 72.4% in the final week. In comparison, 17% received an EIDL during the 9 week survey period.

Business owners have a cautiously optimistic outlook-62.4% of business owners expect it will take 4 months or longer to return to their normal level of operations relative to one year ago, while less than 10% expect their business will never return to its normal level of operations.

The overall outlook also changed over the course of the survey period. In the first week, 31.4% of respondents believed it would take longer than 6 months to return to normal operations, compared to 43.9% in the 9th week. However, a greater number of businesses reported that there was little or no effect on their normal level of operations in the 9th week-12.4% compared to 6.7% in the first week.

Between purchasing personal protective equipment for employees, implementing new cleaning and sanitation protocols, and adjusting product or service offerings, operational costs have increased as a result of the pandemic for many businesses. Federal programs and other funding options are available to help businesses navigate these changes, but not all businesses have been able to access funding through these sources. Get our advice for what to do if you didn't get approved for federal funding, or what to do if you've run out of federal funding.

Nearly 5 million small businesses have received a cumulative total of $518 billion in Paycheck Protection Program funding, as well as $135 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loans, with an average loan size of $105,000 and $60,000 respectively. This may seem like a significant amount, but many businesses are running out of PPP and EIDL funding and are still unable to reopen or are operating at reduced capacity.

According to a survey by Goldman Sachs, about 84% of small businesses that received PPP funding will have exhausted their loan by the first week of August. The same survey found that:

• Only 16% of loan recipients are very confident they will be able to maintain payroll without further government relief
• 63% of small businesses say that less than 75% of their pre-COVID revenue has returned, and 60% say less than 75% of their pre-COVID customer base has returned
• 48% believe their business is prepared for another wave of COVID-19, but only 37% say their business can survive another wave if shutdown protocols are put into place again

If you're running out of funding, there are a number of reasons why you might have received less SBA funding than you applied for, including how lenders calculate how much funding your business is eligible for, other limitations with PPP funding, and loan caps.

Let's take a closer look at why you might not have received as much funding as you applied for and what you can do if you're running out of funding.

PPP is the most popular funding program for businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic-the weekly Small Business Pulse Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau from April 26 to June 27, 2020 indicates that 75% of respondents applied for PPP funding, with just over 65% of businesses receiving funding.

However, there are some limitations to the Paycheck Protection Program that may have impacted how much funding you received, such as how lenders calculate how much you're eligible to receive, how PPP funding can be used, and who is eligible:

• How much are you eligible to receive? The amount of PPP funding a business is eligible for is calculated using the average monthly cost of the salaries of you and your employees. For sole proprietors, PPP is calculated based on your business's net profits. If you didn't receive as much funding as you applied for, it may be because the amount you requested did not coincide with your average monthly payroll costs.
• Loan forgiveness: One of the primary advantages of PPP funding is that these loans will be forgiven if used properly. In order to be eligible for PPP forgiveness, businesses were initially required to use at least 75% of their funding for payroll. However, many businesses have other expenses to cover, such as rent, personal protective equipment, and the cost of adapting to the changing business landscape, and may not have received EIDL funding or have enough cash on hand to cover these expenses throughout the pandemic. With the introduction of the PPP Flexibility Act, this minimum has been reduced to 60% to allow businesses more flexibility in how they use their funding.
• Who is eligible? Qualified businesses are eligible to receive one PPP loan in total. If you've run out of PPP funding, there are a number of funding options available to you.

While the SBA was initially authorized to provide grants up to $10,000 and loans up to $2 million, the agency publicly confirmed that grants were capped at $1,000 per employee and loans at $150,000 at a congressional hearing on July 1, 2020.

If you didn't get approved for as much funding as you hoped, contact your lender. PPP and EIDL funding are not provided directly by the SBA-this funding is actually provided by your lender and is underwritten by the SBA in order to reduce the risk of the loan. That means your lender is ultimately responsible for the amount you receive, so if you want to appeal your loan amount, you'll need to speak directly with them.

You may also wish to investigate alternative forms of funding. If you're running out of federal funding, there are a number of funding options available to you.

There are other SBA funding options available to businesses who have already received PPP funding, including Economic Injury Disaster Loans and 7(a) loans.

EIDL and other SBA funding can be used to cover any business expense, including money owing to suppliers, maintaining new cleaning and sanitation requirements, and personal protective equipment for your employees. While businesses are eligible to receive both PPP and EIDL funding, EIDL funding cannot be used concurrently with PPP funding to cover the same costs. That means you can't use PPP and EIDL funding for the same expense like payroll or rent.

The Employee Retention Tax Credit was created to incentivize business owners to keep employees on their payroll throughout the pandemic. If you received EIDL funding but not PPP funding, you are eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit. If you received PPP funding, you are not eligible for this tax credit.

Most states and municipalities are offering their own funding for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Check with your local chamber of commerce, economic development office, and other non-profit groups that support small business in your area for more information.

Here is a complete list of state funding options.

Some industry organizations are offering grants and specialized support. If your business is affiliated with an industry organization, check their website for details.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are not-for-profit financial institutions that provide credit and financial services to disadvantaged areas, with a special focus on women and minority business owners-two groups who have been especially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the total number of Latino-owned businesses fell by 32% from February to April 2020 due to COVID-19. Similarly, Asian-owned businesses fell by 35% and women-owned businesses fell 25%. However, Black-owned businesses experienced the worst impact:

• Black-owned businesses fell by 41% from February-April 2020 due to COVID-19
• 34% of Black-owned businesses say less than 25% of their pre-COVID revenue has returned compared to 20% of businesses overall
• 28% of Black business owners believe they can survive another wave of the pandemic should similar shutdown protocols become necessary, compared to 37% overall

Many Black-owned businesses are sole proprietorships, don't have enough employees to qualify for PPP, or don't have an existing relationship with a lender, creating additional hurdles that may have prevented these businesses from accessing funds in the first round of PPP funding. The second round of PPP funding released on April 24, 2020 relaxed some of these requirements and channeled more funding to non-bank financial institutions in communities of color, but many businesses are still struggling.

If you fall into one of these groups and were unable to access funding from the SBA or didn't receive as much funding as you need, you may be able to secure the funding you need from a CDFI in your area.

Businesses are currently only eligible to receive one round of PPP funding. If you've run out of PPP funding or aren't eligible for other SBA funding, alternative online lenders like Bluerock Options may be a suitable option for your business. Alternative lenders offer a number of advantages for businesses impacted by COVID-19:

• Easier qualification criteria with less paperwork to gather
• Faster review and approvals, with approval in as little as 2-5 business hours and funding in as little as 1 business day
• No restrictions on how your funds are used-use them for payroll, inventory, or everyday operating expenses
• A variety of funding options are available to suit your business's needs, including merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, collateral loans, and business lines of credit
• Businesses with low credit can receive funding. Instead of focusing on your credit score, our Funding Advisors will review the overall health and potential of your business
• Businesses in high-risk industries can also receive funding

Many businesses who received PPP or EIDL from the SBA are running out of funding but have still not returned to their normal level of operations. If you've run out of federal funding, there are a number of options available to you, including:

• Other SBA funding
• Tax credits
• State and local funding
• Industry organizations
• Community Development Financial Institutions
• Alternative lenders like Bluerock Options