The business landscape is always changing. You may have a good handle on things today, but there’s no telling what changes might await you a few days, weeks, months, or years down the road. Disruptive events can happen at any time, and may include technological upheavals, a shifting regulatory environment, or major swings in consumer sentiment.
For this reason, many businesses engage in a concept called “future-proofing.” Simply put, to future-proof your business means to take proactive steps to ensure its resilience and adaptability in the face of future changes, challenges, and opportunities. This involves anticipating future trends and implementing strategies to mitigate risks.
While future-proofing can look different from one business to the next, there are a few general guidelines that can help any business boost its odds of longevity and success.
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Start with Structure
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that the legal structure you choose for your business can make or break your future-proofing efforts. And while there’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution, a majority of businesses will benefit from the LLC model.
An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, helps establish your business as a separate legal entity, but without some of the regulatory burdens that Corporations face. LLCs help with future-proofing in a number of ways:
- They provide legal liability protections, helping you preserve personal wealth even if the regulatory environment becomes disadvantageous.
- They provide a lot of flexibility with regard to business management, allowing you to pivot as needed.
- They also allow for pass-through taxation, removing some of the major tax burdens that can impede business mobility.
The actual steps for registering an LLC can vary from one state to the next. For an example, read this guide about starting an LLC in New Jersey.
Additional Tips for Future-Proofing Your LLC
Once you’ve registered your business as an LLC, there will be a number of additional steps you can take to ensure it’s poised for ongoing success, no matter what the future may bring. Consider a few tips.
Make Ongoing Investments in Technology
Changes to the technological ecosystem are sure to affect your business, and one of the best ways to capitalize on those changes is to remain on the cutting edge.
Embrace technology that can streamline your operations, improve efficiency, and enhance your products or services. Stay current with emerging technologies relevant to your industry and be willing to invest in them when they offer clear benefits.
Create a Culture of Innovation
Maintaining an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” or “that’s just the way we’ve always done it” mentality can cause your company to stagnate, and to lose its competitive edge as the surrounding marketplace changes.
Avoid stagnation by building innovation into your company culture. Encourage creativity and experimentation among your team members. Create an environment where out-of-the-box thinking is validated, and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities. Finally, invest in continuous education, ensuring your employees are constantly expanding their horizons and broadening their professional interests.
Diversify Your Revenue Streams
Simply put, you don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket. The more revenue streams you have, the more likely you’ll withstand big shifts in consumer preference or sentiment.
Diversification could involve expanding into new markets, offering complementary products or services, or targeting different customer segments. It might also mean exploring different applications for your current products, seizing opportunities to expand your audience.
Focus on Talent Development
Ongoing talent development is another key part of future-proofing. Remain committed to developing employees who have many cross-disciplinary skills, enabling them to pivot and adapt to changing market realities.
Offer seminars, workshops, and other training sessions focused on upskilling. Send your people to professional conferences. Also encourage collaborative projects, allowing employees to gain exposure to departments or skill sets other than their own.
Create a Succession Plan
One of the most common reasons for businesses to stumble, or to fail in adapting to new realities, is because their founder or leader unexpectedly dies or becomes incapacitated. Succession planning helps you prepare for this eventuality, and ensure that the business can withstand the loss of a key leader.
It’s vital to make a succession plan to ensure continuity in leadership and management, especially if your LLC is owner-operated. Identify and develop potential future leaders within your organization to ensure a smooth transition when the time comes.
What are the Biggest Obstacles to Future-Proofing?
As you consider different strategies for future-proofing your LLC, it may also be helpful to think in terms of common obstacles. There are a number of factors that cause future-proofing to take a back seat, all of which can be avoided with intentionality and careful planning.
Some of these obstacles include:
- Resistance to change, either on the part of the business owner or within the company itself.
- Short-term thinking, with greater emphasis placed on tactical thinking as opposed to long-view strategy.
- A lack of resources to invest in things like technology and personnel development.
- A business structure that is too siloed or inflexible.
- Failure to monitor trends or anticipate changes.
- Heightened regulatory pressures, especially in industries like financial services or health and wellness products.
An awareness of these obstacles can be critical for clear-eyed thinking about your business’ future.
Prepare Your Business for Change
Change is inevitable, no matter the market you’re in. The most successful businesses put plans in place to help them weather change, and to ensure they remain adaptive no matter what evolutions come their way. Future-proofing begins with an acknowledgement of key obstacles, with selecting the right business structure, and with creating a culture that’s creative and resilient. Follow these guidelines to position your company to thrive, no matter the challenge.