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Business Contingency Plan

A Business Contingency Plan is a document that outlines emergency plans to keep a business operational in case of emergency. Also called a Business Continuity Plan, a typical Business Contingency Plan identifies a possible risk or threat, operational areas impacted, and the appropriate recovery strategy and personnel.

If you have questions about business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, ask a lawyer or find more resources in our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Legal Center.

Use the Business Contingency Plan document if:

• You are a business owner who wants to plan for emergencies and create a resource guide
• You have been asked by someone in your organization to create a disaster relief plan
• You have finished making a business impact analysis and want to take another step to prepare your business

Making a plan for business continuity can help you and your staff feel well-equipped when facing emergency situations. A Business Contingency Plan should cover minor business disruptions as well as large-scale emergencies or actual threats. For example, it should cover cybersecurity threats, pandemics, natural disasters, etc. Anything that can displace your business virtually or physically should be covered.

Before you make your Business Contingency Plan, it's helpful to do a business impact analysis. You can prioritize business functions, identify the resources needed, and plan out the detailed procedures and logistics in a successful recovery plan for any given emergency.

Other names for this document: Business Continuity Plan, Disaster Plan