As business owners, we spend a lot of time, money, and effort into creating the businesses that we dream of. Whether that is a restaurant, a freelance service provider, or a knowledge-industry business, they all take a lot of work to get going and to achieve success. If you are a shipping consultant, you are exposed to a few unique risks that others don't face and you are also subject to a range of problems that all businesses in the knowledge-industry face. For instance, your network is one of the most valuable assets in the organization. While it is not a tangible asset, it is something that the entire business depends on. Here are a few things that will help you protect the key components in your business and keep your brainchild safe.
1. Employee Agreements
If there is one stakeholder in all the operations that have access to your business and all its resources, it is the employees. Especially when you are in the services sector in which an entire team of employees has to work together to create value for the client, nearly everyone knows the important data in your business. Ideally, you should have all employees sign a contract, but you can modify it according to the particular job role. In this situation, you should be focusing on protecting business information and knowledge. This can be done through a non-disclosure agreement and a contract that clearly prohibits the employee from exposing any internal information of the business.
2. Asset Insurance
Some consultancy businesses can be worth millions of dollars, or even billions of dollars, while the actual assets of the company are not even close to the valuation of the company. This is very similar to tech companies in which their intangible assets are more valuable than the tangible ones, like software. This is why when you get insurance for consulting business, your focus should be on intellectual rights and intangible assets. Also, you need to protect yourself from problems such as data theft, client disputes, and accidents and injuries. There is always a chance that things outside your scope of control will go wrong, and that is where insurance will cover for you.
3. Information Security
Today, more than ever, consultants require information to create the best possible solutions for their clients. With cybercrime on the rise, it is more important than ever before for shipping consultants to invest in cyber security. Even a single weak spot in the system can compromise the entire operation. Multiple layers of security will mean that even if a hacker gains entry to your system they will not be able to use the information. Moreover, good security on your end will also protect all other stakeholders that you are connected to through your infrastructure.
If possible, you should invest in trademarks, copyrights, and all other forms of licensing that will protect your business and your information. Another important step you can take is to register your business as a limited liability company. This gives you a lot of protection as the owner of the business. In the case that something goes wrong, there will be a legal distinction between you and the organization. Meaning you are not responsible for the problems that the business incurs.
