I remember it so clearly. I was sitting on the couch in December 2008, holding my newborn son, watching President Obama try to calm fears as the economy took a nosedive right before the country’s eyes.  My internal dialogue went something like, “What have I done and what will the future look like for my son?”  At the time, I was working commissioned sales, selling janitorial supplies. My boss tried to assure me toilet paper and cleaners were recession-proof products, it turns out that’s only true during a worldwide pandemic.  In a financial crisis, TP and hand sanitizer are the first thing cut from the budget. Go figure.

At the time, 2009, the outlook was bleak. However, some fantastic businesses rose from the ashes of the 2009 financial crisis, which makes me think, maybe a recession is the BEST time to start a business.  Afterall the Great Recession gave us WhatsApp, Venmo, Uber, and Slack. Oh and don’t forget…Groupon?  The time is now!

5 reasons you should start your own business during the pandemic:

1. Necessity:  Perhaps your job has been furloughed or maybe you have been laid off indefinitely. If there is a business idea you’ve been sitting on for way too long, maybe it’s time to dust it off and see if it has legs.  I am not suggesting you forget about the one that pays the bills, but since you have the time, why not test the waters.  Do some research and test the market. Who knows, you might reach your “go, no go” moment sooner than you think.

2. Career Change:  Making a career move let alone a career change is scary, but when change is forced down your throat, it suddenly becomes more palatable. Maybe now is a good time to head back to school or consider learning new skills. Take a look at the programs near you and find your fit.  Locally, the University of Nebraska plans to make tuition free to households making under $60,000 a year starting this fall.  See if you can find a program that works for you.

3. Problems need solving: With this “new reality” comes a bunch of new problems that need to be solved. Whether you have a great idea for navigating life from a social distance or maybe a solution for a more sustainable and accessible toilet paper, put your pandemic problems to work.

4. New assistance opportunities: During the Great Recession of 2009, the government enacted all sorts of small business incentives to help the little guy succeed. Your business isn’t launched yet, so you won’t qualify for the current stimulus but get started and there is a great chance you’ll have the opportunity to get a leg up down the road.

5. You might have the time:  One of the biggest obstacles to starting a business is having enough time. Take advantage of this forced slow down and just get started!

If you are on the edge and trying to decide if you should jump in, don’t let the pandemic derail your business dreams.  Make a plan, test your idea and get going.