How to manage your business during coronavirus

There are still a range of outlets for your products and services, whether you're completely closed or looking for an alternative way to sell and keep the cash flowing. Find new ways to serve your customers by easily adapting the way you sell with Square.

Social distancing requirements across the UK have pushed food and beverage businesses to make difficult decisions about if and how they operate. From coffee shops and food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants, many are adapting their models to continue to best serve their communities and their employees.

As operators in England prepare to open on 4 July – whether you're preparing to reopen, continuing to serve takeaway or you're closed and need to maintain cash flow – here are some resources and tips to help manage your business right now.

If you're looking to shift your business model

Ramp up curbside pick-up and delivery

One of the first restaurant management tips that you may have considered is shifting to curbside pick-up and delivery to continue serving. If you've never provided those options before, there are a couple of ways to set them up: you can work with pickup / delivery partners, or you can quickly create an online ordering page that offers these capabilities.

Create meal kits to sell online

Many people are now working from home and will continue to do so for months to come, feeding their kids every meal and trying to avoid crowded grocery stores. So why not make it a little easier for them by creating meal kits? You can post about meal kits for pick-up or delivery on your social media channels, or include it in an email to customers. The fastest way to get started is to offer meal kits through an online store.

Become a corner shop

Sell what you have in stock — and not just prepared items. People are waiting in socially distanced queues at the grocery store for pantry items like flour, eggs, and toilet paper; you can help them avoid those lines by selling from your own supply via an online store.

Serve food and drinks to go

As part of a shake-up of licensing laws to help hospitality recover, the government has allowed pubs to offer their meals to take away, and pubs and bars can also sell drinks in sealed containers to takeaway.

Market what you have

Things have changed, and they've changed quickly. Send your customers an email (and use whatever social media you use most) to let them know what you're still serving and when or if there are other ways they can support your business and employees.

If you're closed until further notice

Promote digital gift cards

Online gift cards can help increase cash flow while your business is closed. You can quickly set up an online ordering page for gift cards and then promote them to your loyal customers who want to show their support.

Sell your merchandise online

If you have T-shirts, mugs, tote bags or other merch, you can encourage people to buy them now when you need the revenue most. You can sell online via an online store, email, or social media.

Support your staff

Many restaurateurs face impossible decisions on how to manage a restaurant or lay off their staff. Square has created a resource hub which can help you navigate these decisions, as well as a list of helpful contacts for small businesses, available here.

Restaurant community resources

From ways to donate to restaurant management tips, these sources can help you navigate through these difficult times.

HospoLive Service and industry workers can gain access to industry-leading experts who are donating their time to host webinars and seminars from 8:30am GMT every weekday.

Give and Get Local A Square directory of businesses offering gift cards that consumers can search by location. To add your business, simply create a gift card ordering page.

Guild of Fine Food This advocate for independent shops and restaurants is making sure nothing goes to waste by matching produce and stock that is unable to be sold with those who would like to purchase it.

The Hospitality Workers' Fund This emergency fund aims to assist zero-hours workers in the UK.

Drinks Trust This non-profit issues grants to bartenders and workers in the pub sector.

Bartender Emergency Assistance Program Grants available to anyone working in the hospitality industry.

The next steps

If you want to reach your customers online or find different ways to sell your products, Square can help. Visit https://squareup.com/gb/en for more information on:

● Setting up an online store

● Taking online orders

● Offering curbside pick-up or delivery

● Using touch-free or remote payments

● Accepting donations or membership fees online

● Selling eGift Cards online.

Squareup Europe Limited is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details on transaction fee per product, can be seen here: squareup.com/gb/en/pricing