• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Submissions
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Aug 13, 2022
  • Startup
    • Creating a Plan
    • Funding a Startup
    • Franchise Center
    • Getting Your Office Ready
    • Making Your Business Official
    • Marketing Your New Business
    • Personal Readiness
  • Run & Grow
    • Customer Service
    • Human Resources
    • Innovation
    • Legal
    • Operations
    • Risk Management
  • Leadership
    • Best Practices
    • Communication
    • Green Initiatives
    • Open Culture
    • Strategic Planning
    • People Skills
  • Sales & Marketing
    • Advertising and Lead Generation
    • Marketing Innovations
    • Marketing Plans
    • Online Marketing
    • Relationships
    • Sales Activities
  • Finance
    • Budgeting and Personal Finance
    • Payments and Collections
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Pricing Strategy
    • Working with Investors
    • Working with Lenders
  • Tech
    • eCommerce
    • Hardware
    • Software
    • Security
    • Tech Reviews
    • Telecom
  • Shop

SmallBizClub

Helping You Succeed

Home / Technology / Security / Startup Security: 5 Ways to Avoid Theft in Your Small Business
Startup Security: 5 Ways to Avoid Theft in Your Small Business

Startup Security: 5 Ways to Avoid Theft in Your Small Business

1444 Views

Aug 4, 2017 By SmallBizClub

Theft costs businesses millions of dollars each year. For your business to grow, you need to protect your profit margins, and a part of that is preventing theft. Random thieves and even your own employees could be draining your cash and carrying off your material goods. In fact, more theft comes from inside the company than from outside. Here are some steps you can take to prevent theft.

1. Be Observant

Just the fact that they’re being watched can deter many thieves. Install surveillance cameras both outside the building at all points of entry, and at important locations inside. This might be around loading docks, valuable merchandise, cash registers, or blind spots such as narrow warehouse aisles. Place overhead security mirrors throughout open spaces for wider fields of view. Encourage and provide incentives for employees to report suspicious behavior.

2. Communicate Consequences

Make it clear that you won’t tolerate theft. When onboarding new employees inform them that anyone caught stealing will be terminated immediately and fully prosecuted. Mention some of the possible consequences, such as jail time and the stigma of a criminal record. Post signs stating that you have a zero-tolerance policy for shoplifters, and reminding visitors that they are under surveillance.

3. Educate Your Staff

Get your staff some security training sessions, such as the type of behavior to look for, the importance of securing locks and activating alarms when they leave, and logging off computers when they’re away from the desk. Randomly perform audits of inventory and point of sale receipts.

4. Protect Value

Be sure that expensive merchandise, equipment, tools, and raw materials are closely monitored and kept locked and secured when not in use. Leave the keys with trusted supervisors and hold them accountable for tracking and storing valuables properly. Access to computer data should also be restricted to a need-to-know basis only. This helps to prevent theft of sensitive customer information like social security and credit card numbers, or intellectual property like designs and research.

5. Crimes of Opportunity

You might also consider data analytics. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity. Analysis of incidents will help to predict when and where these theft at any level is most likely to occur. You can then design and institute opportunity blockers. For example, just installing CCTV cameras in the right places can reduce theft by 79 percent.

It takes planning and constant monitoring to maintain an honest and secure company. But the time and cost of doing so will be worth it if it protects your bottom line.

Dixie SomersAuthor: Dixie Somers is a freelance writer and blogger for business, home, and family niches. Dixie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls and wife to a wonderful husband. Dixie recommends taking an MBA degree program online for the best information about how to educate your employees best.

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Risk Management, Security

SmallBizClub

SmallBizClub

SmallBizClub.com is dedicated to providing small businesses and entrepreneurs the information and resources they need to start, run, and grow their businesses. The publication was founded by successful entrepreneur and NFL Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton. We bring you the most insightful thinking from industry leaders, veteran business owners, and fellow entrepreneurs. That means guides to the complex worlds of financing and technology. It means business owners sharing their personal stories—both successes and failures— through articles, video, and most important, answers to your small business questions. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Related Posts

  • Managing Third-Party Risk is Easier Than You Think
  • tis-the-season-for-online-scamsSmall Businesses at Higher Risk of Being Scammed than Large Companies
  • Witchcraft or Science – What Makes an ID Scanner Tick?

Primary Sidebar

Random

Why and How to Align Your Team Through Brand Values

Aug 11, 2022 By Luke Britton

Why Businesses Should Treat Employee Burnout as a Risk Management Issue

Aug 11, 2022 By Andrew Deen

From Beat Cop to Entrepreneur: A Unique Startup Story

Aug 10, 2022 By SmallBizClub

a-startup-goldmine--combining-healthcare-and-technology

‍9 Tips for Making Your Healthcare Business More Successful

Aug 9, 2022 By Charlotte Sylvester

employment-practices-liability

‍5 Business Liabilities That Can Cause You A Ton Of Trouble

Aug 9, 2022 By Jeremy Bowler

Footer

About Us

Small Biz Club is the premier destination for small business owners and entrepreneurs. To succeed in business, you have to constantly learn about new things, evaluate what you’re doing, and look for ways to improve—that’s what we’re here to help you do.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 by Tarkenton Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms | Privacy