Running a successful restaurant in the Houston area involves making many critical decisions, such as finding a prime location for your business, securing financial backing from lenders and investors, hiring quality cooks and wait staff, and also obtaining all permits and licenses needed to operate. One other key decision restaurant owners must make involves securing quality insurance for the restaurant and employees.

In the last decade, there has been a steady increase in food production awareness, as people learn more about food industry and the various chemicals, hormones, pesticides and genetically modified materials used to create a growing percentage of food in America. As a result of this information, more people are choosing to purchase and consume organic and locally sourced produce, meats and dairy.

Business owners know that it is vitally important to protect valuable company assets, such as buildings and office space, electronic equipment, specialized machinery, inventory, business vehicles and other company property. Protecting these assets often includes the use of parking lot cameras, secured card-key entry and exit doors, and security guards to protect the business during off-hours.

There are few jobs in the country as demanding and rewarding as being a small business owner. In our volatile economy, many small business owners work day and night to increase revenue, expand their market share, attract new customers and retain quality employees. In the quest to turn a simple business idea into a thriving business reality, many small business owners focus only on customer growth and revenues but fail to make adequate plans for the future.

Five years ago this week, residents and business owners throughout the greater Houston and Galveston region were devastated by the impact of Hurricane Ike, a Category 4 storm that decimated entire communities. Hundreds of thousands throughout the Gulf Coast were left with no electricity, damaged homes and businesses, and a massive cleanup.

Business owners understand there are many challenges and situations they must always be prepared for, including fire, floods, theft and other weather disasters. However, one common problem that can significantly hurt business is the loss of electricity during a power outage.