*Cough. Cough* I’m sick. This may sound familiar, because every employed person had a valid excuse to call out of work starting in 2020.

As of this writing, Covid-19 was the latest scandal pandemic to hit the streets. It left a lasting effect on the population, e.g., long COVID. Some businesses were destroyed while some made a record profit.

So, what’s considered a pandemic and should it stop you from starting a business?

A pandemic is a breakout germs or infectious disease that affects a large group of people around the world over the course months or years.

Pandemics can happen in waves. Pandemics can also have a period where there are spikes and not a lot of activity.

What’s worse is that these diseases can spread fast in a matter of days. Before Covid-19, the world dealt with cholera, plague and influenza. And before that we had the Black Death.

The point is that pandemics are are like a bad rash you can’t get rid of. So, on average, there are three pandemics every century.

Is the pandemic a good time to start a business?

I raise your question with a question. If not now, then when? If not you, then who?

I’ll stop speaking in riddles and make my opinion very clear. You shouldn’t let a pandemic stop you from following your dreams or starting a business.

Pandemics are inevitable and a are part of life unfortunately. However, I think it’ s a good idea to start a business during a pandemics for two reasons.

The first reason is that there may be less competition for resources. Second, regardless of any positive or negative changes in the world, customers will always have needs. So, no matter what’s going on in the world (good or bad), there are certain customers’ needs that will always need to be met, e.g., food, shelter, clothing, etc.

Also, there may be low interest rates for borrowing money. So, there may be a chance to get cheaper equipment, especially if other companies have gone out of business. You may be able to get deeply discounted inventory, because these companies need to sell everything quickly.

Also, you might find a good deal on office space or building space. A lot of landlords may have empty buildings because of these failed businesses. So, a landlord would probably negotiate a better deal to keep some income coming in.

Even when times are good and the money is flowing and the champagne is popping, only 20% of new businesses survive.

So, you shouldn’t ignore that we are in a pandemic. You just need to pivot and accommodate what’s going on in the world.

What has happened to businesses during the pandemic?

It’s not often that you see a pandemic come with benefits. The H1N1 outbreak (“swine flu”) of 2009 had several disadvantages and advantages.

During the H1N1 pandemic, companies lost around $55 billion in revenue, and many closed their doors. However, these businesses were able to bounce back and open up again after about a year.

On the other hand, the 2009 film “Avatar” was released during the H1N1 pandemic and earned $77,025,481 during its opening weekend. It eventually made over $2 billion dollars at the office!

During Covid-19, several companies filed for bankruptcy, e.g., Hertz, Brooks Brothers, Gold’s Gym, J.C. Penney, etc.

However, other companies, such as Amazon and Walmart, raked in billions during the pandemic.

So, is it smart to start a business during a pandemic? It all depends on how you see it.

If you see it as an opportunity to fill a gap in the market or create something that meets your customers’ needs, then it is smart to start a business.

Tips for starting a business during a pandemic

You should consider creating a business that will cater to people who have been affected by the pandemic.

For example, if the pandemic has affected people’s transportation, you can start a delivery or courier service. Also, you can sell items related to food preparation and cooking, e.g., meal prep services.

So, I wouldn’t start a business that may not do well in a pandemic, e.g., travel or tourism business. However, I would start a business doing telemedicine or online fitness programs.

You can cater to people who aren’t able to travel or who live in rural areas. There will always be a certain population that is not served because of the lack of resources in a certain part of the country or community.

So, offering something a customer needs that allows them to access it without leaving the comfort of their own home is a no-brainer.

Marketing Strategy

In a pandemic, it’s best to have a creative marketing plan. Effective marketing should include figuring out who you’re going to target.

You should also figure out where your customers live or work. How do they use the products or services that you’re trying to sell?

Once you figure that out, you can create a marketing campaign that may include paid ads, or SEO (search engine optimization), or even email marketing.

Next, you should determine what’s working and what’s not working. Adjust your marketing campaign to make sure that you’re reaching the right people.

There’s nothing worse than wasting a whole bunch of money on marketing that doesn’t work.

Businesses In Demand During a Pandemic

Cleaning Services

If you’re considering becoming a cleaning service business owner during the pandemic, there are several factors to consider.

You should take extra precautions to protect your health and/or the health of your staff. Regardless, there’s an absolute need for cleaning services, especially in certain industries.

For example, hospitals will always exist, and hospitals will always need good cleaning services. Other businesses that need cleaning services include spas, shopping centers, etc.

Delivery Services

There will always be a need for courier and delivery services in a pandemic. In fact, the need for delivery services should increase during a pandemic.

People may not be able to leave the house (or may be scared to do so). Regardless, these people will need items delivered to them, e.g., food, medication, household products, etc.

Online Fitness Programs

Health is wealth. That will always be true, especially in a pandemic.

Some people may be too busy to go to the gym. Some people also will not go to the gym in a pandemic. So, you can bring the gym to them.

Telehealth Services

Mental health is just as important as your physical health. During a pandemic, a lot of people are isolated.

Isolation doesn’t help people who were already dealing with depression and other mental health issues. The good thing about telemedicine is that it allows patients to see a mental professional anytime and anywhere.

Wrapping It Up

During a pandemic, I think the best thing you can do is start a business that offers a service or a product that a person will always need (evergreen Industries).

You can also focus on businesses that are also recession-proof. The key is to use a pandemic to your advantage.

What I mean is that you shouldn’t price gouge or take advantage of people. However, you can figure out the gaps in services that were created by the pandemic and fill those needs.

For example, a lot of people aren’t able to travel during a pandemic. Hygiene will always be a selling point in a pandemic. And people will always get sick, especially during a pandemic.

So, if you take this things into consideration, you can find a way to exploit the pandemic without exploiting people.

There’s always money to be made (even in a pandemic). You just have to know where to find it.

Would you let a pandemic stop you from starting a business or would you start a business anyway?