Author: Rhonda Abrams, Special to USA TODAY

For small business owners, emergency preparedness should also include a professional to help with your insurance claims.

President Donald Trump could have rescued American small businesses, but he didn’t, says columnist Rhonda Abrams.

COVID-19 could have ended a West Coast bike company and an ice cream maker. But both owners found ways to fill needs in the pandemic and are thriving.

It’s estimated that over 100,000 small businesses have closed their doors for good. There are ways to avoid that fate.

Small-business owners are respected members of the community. It’s time to use that position to demand justice and equality for everyone.

If you truly care about the survival of America’s small businesses, fix the forgiveness provisions of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and fix them fast.

Lawmakers should focus on long-term plans for small business survival and better oversee stopgap measures like the Paycheck Protection Program.

The $400 billion is just not enough. Some banks are already tapped out, and smaller businesses must compete with larger ones for the same pot of cash.

The just-passed Senate bill guarantees loans and unemployment insurance, but provisions like payroll subsidies and deferred tax payments are missing.

Don’t let your small business suffer in chaos and confusion. Get clear about your goals and make a plan.