With reports that the Royal Mail industrial action could cost the economy £1.5 billion, SmallBusiness.co.uk and Business Link have teamed up to help you minimise the damage.

With reports that the Royal Mail industrial action could cost the economy £1.5 billion, SmallBusiness.co.uk and Business Link have teamed up to help you minimise the damage.

The Communications Workers Union says a fresh round of postal strikes could occur Thursday 29 October. So the most obvious piece of advice is to send any urgent items now and email or telephone where possible once they begin. However, if you have to use the post during the strike, read our checklist on how to reduce the damage.

Customer service

Let your customers know that there may be a delay to their goods being received. By keeping them updated, they’ll be able to make their own plans and won't hold you responsible for any disruption caused.

Outside the box

If you need to send anything, take outgoing mail to a post office as it is more likely to be collected than from a post box.

Alternative delivery

For urgent items, consider sending your post by special delivery – but check with the post office to see if this service is still running. You might want to send your items by a courier service instead.

Electronic mail

As late payment can result in interest charges or penalties, pay bills online or at banks, building societies and Post Offices.

Go to the Royal Mail website to get the latest information about the strike action.

See also: Postal rates shake-up could hit small businesses