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essential business. Stay in touch with them via social media, by email or handwritten notes – suggest ways they can help you keep your doors open.
7. Stay on top of your lines of credit. While they can bridge the gap between being closed to reopening, be careful that you don’t further overextend your amount of loans and debt. Reserve your credit cards for emergency purchases. If you’ve had excellent credit, it might help to
ask for a larger credit amount. However, again, be cautious not to overextend. Credit cards can have a large interest rate and it may be better to reach out to your banker for other options.
8. Consider a temporary reduction in salaries of your top employees. As much as you want to keep them on and keep their salaries whole, lowering their salaries some is a better option than totally laying them off or unpaid leaves of
absence. They will understand that you are willing to take less income yourself and they may want to help the company get back to profitability.
9. Stay on top of any and all outstanding payments. You don’t want to ruin your credit unnecessarily. Many and most creditors want to help people and businesses get through this pandemic and will allow lower payments, delayed payments, and even refinancing. Call and make arrangements – don’t just assume they will understand.
10. Connect with your Helena Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has resources, information, special ways to spread the word on your business status (open, closed, revised), and is ready to assist you in any way we possibly can. We have been in business for your business for 130 years – working harder than ever in these challenging times! •
The Chamber is ready to assist you in any way we can.
IT’S MY BUSINESS... BUT I’M NOT ALONE
“ When I started my business I asked experienced people for advice, and I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t. That’s why I picked FCB to handle my account. They have the combined experiences of every commercial client and banker from all their branches across the state.”
Statewide knowledge in every branch.
2987 Prospect Ave • 449-9300 I 7517 Roughsawn Dr • 996-1160 I www.fcbank.net
B2B | A Publication of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce 29
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