The current lockdown is undoubtedly a stressful time for all. But it does have the upside of building a stronger relationship with your clients. Here are few easy ways to achieve this.
#1 Assurance of Remote Support
- Proactively reach out to clients to assure them of no decline in your service quality.
- Make reaching out to clients a part of your and your team’s routine.
- Ensure you are fully equipped to work remotely.
- Remember that each person’s understanding of technology is different; take the time to walk team members and clients through the workings of remote collaboration tools and be patient.
#2 Proactive assessment of Client Finances
- Stay atop the financial position of your clients.
- Pay special attention to clients whose business is likely to be affected or are employed by high-risk industries like tourism, healthy.
- Proactively offer guidance to those who expect to be financially impacted.
#3 Timely Guidance
- If your clients have been adversely impacted, make sure they act on receiving help at the earliest.
- Lenders and the government are rolling out support for small businesses and individuals whose income has been adversely impacted by the lockdown.
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- The NSW government is offering weekly COVID payments to small businesses.
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- $1000 for sole traders and small businesses
- Financial assistance of $1500 to $10,000 based on 40% of the company’s payroll
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- The NSW government will be making weekly COVID payments to individuals who’ve seen a decline in income on account of the lockdown.
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- $325-$375 for a reduction of up to 20 hours of work a week
- $500-$600 if the decline is over 20 hours of work a week
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- The Victoria Government is offering support to small businesses too.
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- Package of $400 million: This includes a new $85 million Small Business COVID Hardship Fund and a $156 million Business Continuity Fund and support for commercial tenants and landlords.
- Rent Support: Businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million that have seen at least a 30 per cent dip in business can claim a significant rent reduction.
- Hospitality Support: Grants of up to $20,000 for eligible licensed venues that continue to be impacted by current restrictions and an additional $2000 for businesses located within the CBD.
- Small Businesses: $5000 grants for around 30,000 traders that have been hit as well as an extra $2000 for businesses in CBD that get business from the office staff.
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- Lenders are also offering a deferment of repayments to existing mortgage holders that have been adversely impacted by the lockdown. Here is a point to note: the conditions to receive hardship support aren’t as lax as the earlier mortgage holidays granted during 2020. It’s, therefore, best to prep adversely impacted clients for a greater level of scrutiny, paperwork and consequently longer turnaround time.
If you are a part of a reliable franchise network, you’ll receive adequate guidance on how to proceed in the wake of such challenges. Click HERE to reach us for a discussion.