Why Every Small Business and Charity Needs a Risk Register (And How an App Makes It Simple)
Running a small business or charity means juggling a hundred things at once. You're focused on delivering your service, managing your team, keeping clients happy, and staying compliant—all while trying to grow.
But here's the thing: when you're busy putting out fires, it's easy to miss the risks that could actually burn your business down.
That's where a risk register comes in. And no, it doesn't have to be complicated.
What is a Risk Register?
A risk register is simply a document (or app) that helps you identify, track, and manage the risks your organisation faces. Think of it as your early warning system—a way to spot problems before they become crises.
For small businesses and charities, common risks might include:
• Operational risks: What happens if your key staff member leaves? What if your main supplier goes bust?
• Financial risks: Cash flow problems, late payments, unexpected costs
• Compliance risks: GDPR breaches, health and safety issues, regulatory changes
• Technology risks: Cyber attacks, data loss, system failures
• Reputational risks: Negative reviews, social media crises, client complaints
• Strategic risks: Market changes, new competitors, changing customer needs
The goal isn't to eliminate every risk (that's impossible). It's to understand what could go wrong, how likely it is, how bad it would be if it happened, and what you're doing about it.
Why Small Businesses and Charities Struggle with Risk Management
Most small organisations know they should manage risks better, but they often don't because:
"We're too small to need formal risk management" Actually, small businesses and charities are often more vulnerable to risks because they have fewer resources to recover from setbacks. One major incident can be catastrophic.
"We don't have time" Risk management doesn't have to be a full-time job. Even 30 minutes a month reviewing and updating your risk register can make a huge difference.
"It's too complicated" You don't need complex enterprise risk management frameworks. A simple list of risks, their likelihood, impact, and your mitigation plans is enough to get started.
"We'll remember the important stuff" When you're busy, it's easy to forget about risks until they become problems. A risk register ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
The Practical Benefits of a Risk Register
When done right, a risk register helps you:
✅ Make better decisions: Understanding your risks helps you prioritise where to invest time and money
✅ Sleep better at night: Knowing you've identified and planned for potential problems reduces stress
✅ Meet compliance requirements: Many funders, insurers, and regulators expect to see evidence of risk management
✅ Protect your reputation: Proactive risk management helps you avoid crises that could damage your brand
✅ Save money: Preventing problems is almost always cheaper than fixing them after they happen
✅ Build confidence: Stakeholders (clients, funders, trustees) want to see that you're managing risks professionally
The Problem with Traditional Risk Registers
Many organisations start with a spreadsheet or Word document. That works—until it doesn't.
Spreadsheets get messy: As your list grows, it becomes hard to find things, track changes, and see what needs attention.
They're not collaborative: If multiple people need to update it, you end up with version control nightmares.
They're easy to forget: A document sitting in a folder somewhere often gets ignored until it's too late.
They lack context: It's hard to see the bigger picture or understand how risks relate to each other.
They're not accessible: If your risk register isn't easy to access and update, it won't get updated.
How a Risk Register App Solves These Problems
At Infracto, we've built a risk register app specifically for small businesses and charities. Here's how it makes risk management practical:
1. Everything in One Place
No more hunting through folders or wondering which version is current. All your risks, actions, and reviews are in one secure, accessible location.
2. Easy to Use
You don't need training or a risk management qualification. The app guides you through identifying risks, assessing their likelihood and impact, and creating action plans.
3. Collaborative
Multiple team members can view and update risks, with clear audit trails showing who changed what and when. Perfect for trustees, managers, and staff who all need visibility.
4. Visual and Clear
See your risks at a glance with colour-coded priority levels. Quickly identify which risks need immediate attention and which are under control.
5. Action Tracking
Each risk can have associated actions with owners and deadlines. No more wondering who's responsible for what or when things are due.
6. Regular Reviews
Set reminders for risk reviews so nothing gets forgotten. The app prompts you to review risks regularly, ensuring your register stays current and relevant.
7. Reporting Made Simple
Generate reports for trustees, funders, or insurers with a few clicks. Export your risk register in formats that stakeholders expect to see.
8. Secure and Compliant
Your risk data is stored securely, with proper access controls and audit trails. Perfect for organisations that need to demonstrate good governance.
Real-World Examples: How Small Organisations Use Risk Registers
A small charity (5 staff) Uses their risk register to track operational risks like volunteer availability, funding gaps, and data protection compliance. Before board meetings, they review high-priority risks and update trustees on mitigation progress.
A family-run business (12 staff) Tracks risks around key person dependency, supplier relationships, and cash flow. When their main supplier had financial difficulties, they'd already identified this risk and had a backup plan ready.
A community organisation (3 staff) Uses their risk register to demonstrate good governance to funders. When applying for grants, they can show they've thought through potential risks and have plans in place.
Getting Started: Your First Risk Register
Starting a risk register doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's a simple approach:
Brainstorm risks: Get your team together for 30 minutes and list everything that could go wrong. Don't filter—just capture ideas.
Assess each risk: For each risk, ask:
- How likely is this to happen? (Low/Medium/High)
- If it did happen, how bad would it be? (Low/Medium/High)
Prioritise: Focus on high-likelihood, high-impact risks first. These are your critical risks that need immediate attention.
Create action plans: For each priority risk, decide what you're going to do about it. Who's responsible? When will it be done?
Review regularly: Set a monthly or quarterly review to update your register, add new risks, and check progress on actions.
Keep it simple: Start with 10-15 risks. You can always add more later. The goal is to get started, not to create a perfect register on day one.
Why We Built a Risk Register App
After working with small businesses and charities, we saw the same problems again and again: risk registers that were started with good intentions but quickly became outdated, forgotten, or too complicated to maintain.
We built our Risk Register App to solve these problems. It's designed specifically for small organisations that need practical risk management without the complexity of enterprise tools.
Key features include:
- Simple risk identification and assessment
- Action tracking with owners and deadlines
- Visual priority indicators
- Collaborative access for teams
- Regular review reminders
- Easy reporting and exports
The Bottom Line
Risk management isn't about being pessimistic or worrying about everything that could go wrong. It's about being prepared, making informed decisions, and protecting the organisation you've worked hard to build.
For small businesses and charities, a risk register app makes this practical. It removes the barriers that stop organisations from managing risks effectively: complexity, time, and forgetfulness.
You don't need to be a risk management expert. You just need a tool that makes it simple.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're running a small business or charity and want to get serious about risk management—without the complexity—our Risk Register App is designed for you.
Try it free at risk-register-pro.infracto.co.uk
No credit card required. No complicated setup. Just practical risk management that actually works for small organisations.
Questions? Want to see how it could work for your organisation? Get in touch and let's talk.
Risk management doesn't have to be complicated. With the right tools, it can be practical, manageable, and genuinely helpful for protecting your organisation.
