How to Stay Cool When Inspectors Show Up at Your Small Business

Question: What’s the best way to handle things when a state or local regulator shows up at our business? IRS audits are bad enough, but we also get surprise on-site inspections for safety and compliance.

Answer: Code enforcement officers, safety inspectors and other regulators often show up unannounced — and at the worst times for small business owners. Their presence can spark fear and frustration if you don’t know how to handle their visits. I posed your question to three experts and came up with this list of dos and don’ts:

Stay positive. Welcome officials and ask to accompany them on inspections. If you absolutely can’t take the time to do so, explain why not and ask them to come back later. Be friendly and respectful and make sure you understand the purpose of any visit. “Remain calm, attentive and professional. It is reasonable to ask under whose authority they are working and request credentials. You have the right to ask for specific orders granting them authority to inspect the premises,” says Charles Kellogg, director of risk management at BBSI, a company that handles personnel issues and risk management for more than 3,000 small and midsized businesses nationwide. Read more...