Business risks are the likely dangers that a business enterprise may encounter if preventive measures or safety precautions are not put in place to avoid them. When an enterprise experiences a particular business risk, the entrepreneur should not point finger at witches, ghosts or enemies. They happen as a result of poor planning and failure to set out measures in managing these risks. There are two main types of risks that a business enterprise is likely to face.
These are Direct risks and Indirect Risks.
1. Direct risks- This is a type of business risk that could entirely collapse a business enterprise. They directly affect the enterprise and halts down all of its business activities. Due to the severity of direct risks, entrepreneurs should set out preventive measures of curtailing them. Examples of direct risks include theft, fire, bankruptcy, misuse of capital through irresponsible expenses etc.
2. Indirect risks- This type of business risk slowly causes the collapse of the enterprise. If extreme care is not taken, it can be hidden from entrepreneurs. Like a slow poison, indirect risks if left unchecked can ruin a business enterprise. They are quite difficult to control and account for greater portion of business losses. Examples of indirect risks are lack of sales due to faulty or low quality products, wrong business locations, currency inflation, introduction of new taxes, changes in labour laws etc.
Business risks whether direct or indirect can be managed or controlled. The entrepreneur should be very vigilant and alert in his supervisory role. There should be regular or routine check of stocks and finished products. Only the entrepreneur cannot do this work. An accountant or book keeper should be employed and assigned to check the accounts of the business every month or even daily depending on the size of the enterprise or the rate of purchase of products.
Also, the entrepreneur has to increase vigilance and security by beaming up the security such as employing security personnel and installing security devices. These measures would help minimize or entirely stop the cases of theft.
Most of the fire outbreaks that occur in the enterprises are as a result of faulty electrical connections and appliances. The entrepreneur must employ a qualified electrician to do all the electrical connections or wiring in the enterprise. He has to replace all weak or faulty wires and other electrical appliances to avoid the likelihood of fire outbreak.
Low sales and patronage of the products of an enterprise can be as a result of several factors. Paramount among these is due to the low quality nature of the products and wrong business location. The entrepreneur must undertake training for his staff members while constantly checking for product quality. He has to use quality and durable materials for the manufacture of his products. Furthermore, if wrong business location is causing the drop in sales of products, the entrepreneur should relocate the business to a more promising area where there would be high patronage for his products.
Inflation and constant changes in labour laws can affect the success of a business enterprise. An entrepreneur should be always alert to these changes. He can do this by keeping in touch with the relevant ministries to know what new changes have been planned that may affect one’s business.
It takes a great deal of time and efforts for entrepreneurs to set up enterprises. Owing to this, they must vigilantly guard against any internal or external dangers that might result in their collapse. Identifying and controlling potential threats to businesses is the guaranteed way to succeed.