In the past few weeks I've weathered several small crisis'. I had a catastrophic computer crash, and then just last week a sudden death in my family. I'm sure I'm not the only one-with severe weather affecting people all over the country, floods and power outages just might affect your business next. We all know we should back up our data, but what else can you do to make sure your business runs smoothly when things go wrong? The most important thing you can do is communicate. Contact your clients and give them a brief explanation of the problem and when you expect to be available again. Most will understand-after all they are human and have probably gone through similar things themselves at one point or another. If you provide critical support services or have clients with time sensitive needs, its smart to have a list of colleagues in your field you can refer them to in your absence.

What if your business requires you to be able to get online whenever and wherever? You'll need a back up plan. A smartphone or Blackberry is a smart choice as they will allow you to be available via email, text or IM just about anywhere. It's also a good idea to have a back up computer you can access in case yours crashes. Hard drives do tend to die rather suddenly. I also highly recommend looking into getting a wireless data card from your cell provider. Not only will they allow you to use your laptop to get online in all kinds of places-even cars, they are also a lifesaver when your home Internet connection goes out (which tends to happen frequently during stormy weather, especially if you have DSL).

By making a back up plan and keeping the lines of communication as open as possible, your home business will weather any storm!