The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law in March 2020 as part of the US government’s response to the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. A provision in that bill known as the Employee Retention Credit may reduce the tax liability of qualifying employers. The good news is that the American Rescue Plan Act of March 2021amended the CARES act to make the tax credit even more generous.

With so many unpredictable factors affecting our lives and the economy in 2020, how can we anticipate positive change as this year continues to unfold? The key might be to control what you can and prepare for the tides that could turn either way in the months ahead.

Unless your industry was one of the few that were helped by the 2020 pandemic, your small business has likely experienced financial and other difficulties and may still struggle. With all the economic upheaval, social movement, government programs, executive orders, and administrative changes still going on, it may be difficult to estimate your company’s 2021 budget needs and expectations.

The end of one year and the beginning of the next should always prompt small business owners to think about their business resolutions for the coming year. This is true for 2021 more than any other recent year, after enduring what 2020 brought. These six resolutions not only apply to most small businesses for the coming year but are useful for years to come.

Your business has undoubtedly been affected by the COVID pandemic. If it was once prosperous and viable, it can one day again be successful, even in a future which may never go back to “normal.” Pivoting is returning to a business model that existed during your startup to make possibly large or extreme adjustments to accommodate new growth or a changing external business environment. In the case of COVID-19, the business environment is almost alien, and to survive and thrive, pivoting to embrace and make changes is necessary.