Business Continuity Checklist

A checklist to build and maintain a business continuity plan.

Published June 24, 2026

Assess risks and impact

List the threats most likely to disrupt your business.
Assess the likelihood and impact of each threat.
Estimate how long you could survive without key operations.
Identify single points of failure in your business.
Note dependencies on suppliers, systems and key people.
Prioritize the risks that need a plan first.

Identify critical functions

List the functions that must keep running to serve customers.
Set a recovery time objective for each critical function.
Identify the people, systems and data each function needs.
Cross-train staff so no function relies on one person.
Document the minimum resources needed to operate.
Rank functions so you know what to restore first.

Protect data and backups

Identify the data and records you cannot afford to lose.
Set up automatic backups on a regular schedule.
Store backups offsite or in the cloud, separate from your systems.
Test restoring from a backup to confirm it works.
Secure systems with strong access controls and updates.
Keep copies of critical documents and credentials securely.

Plan communication

Create a contact list for staff, suppliers and key partners.
Define who decides and who communicates during a crisis.
Prepare message templates for staff, customers and media.
Choose backup communication channels if primary ones fail.
Plan how to keep customers informed of disruptions.
Store contact and communication plans where they're reachable offline.

Prepare alternatives and recovery

Identify backup locations or remote work options.
Line up alternative suppliers for critical inputs.
Confirm insurance covers relevant disruptions.
Coverage and requirements vary by jurisdiction — confirm with your provider.
Build a cash reserve or access to emergency funds.
Document step-by-step recovery procedures.
Assign clear roles for executing the recovery.

Test and maintain the plan

Run a tabletop exercise to walk through a scenario.
Test backups and recovery steps in practice.
Capture lessons learned and update the plan.
Train staff so everyone knows their role.
Review the plan at least once a year.
Update it after any major change to the business.

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A business continuity checklist helps you build a plan that keeps your business running through disruptions — from outages and cyber incidents to natural disasters and supply failures. It covers assessing risks, identifying critical functions, protecting data, planning communication, and recovering operations quickly.

Most businesses assume they'll cope until something breaks. A flood, a server failure or a key supplier going dark can stop revenue cold, and the businesses that recover are the ones that planned ahead.

This checklist guides small business owners through creating a practical continuity plan, then keeping it current. The goal isn't a thick binder no one reads, but a clear set of actions your team can follow under pressure.

Print the checklist for your emergency folder and keep the PDF stored offsite or in the cloud so it's reachable even if your systems are down. Review and test the plan regularly so it actually works when you need it.

FAQ

What is a business continuity plan?

It's a documented plan for how your business keeps operating, or quickly resumes, during and after a disruption. It identifies critical functions, the resources they need, and the steps to recover them.

Does a small business really need one?

Yes. Small businesses are often the most vulnerable to disruption and the least able to absorb lost revenue. Even a short, simple plan dramatically improves your odds of recovering quickly.

How often should I update the plan?

Review it at least once a year, and after any major change such as new systems, locations, suppliers or staff. Test parts of it regularly so gaps surface before a real emergency.

What's the difference between continuity and disaster recovery?

Disaster recovery focuses on restoring IT systems and data, while continuity covers the whole business — people, operations, communication and customers. Disaster recovery is one part of a continuity plan.

Is this available as a printable PDF?

Yes. Print the continuity checklist for your emergency folder or download the PDF and store a copy offsite so it's available even if your systems go down.