Every business has its rules, and I’m not talking about the ones that dictate vacation days and dress codes. Business rules are roadmaps the guide your business in its day-to-day operation. If you are running your business without them, you are probably well on your way to driving your customers, employees and suppliers crazy with your inconsistency.
Rules help keep everyone associated with your business on the same page. And that’s critical for smooth operation.

The law of the land

If you are working with a fulfillment firm, be prepared to share your business rules. When we sit down with a new fulfillment client, business rules are one of the first things we discuss. We enter all of their rules into our fulfillment software, which ensures that the way we are shipping and handling their product is in step with their business rules.

What sorts of things do we need to know, rule-wise? Here are a few examples from my business rules checklist. This is by no means a comprehensive list.

• Does your product need to be insured?
• Do you ship internationally?
• Are there countries that you do not ship to?
• Do you ship to APO addresses (military operations)?
• Will your product spoil?
• Will your product spill?
• Is your product hazardous?
• How is payment made?
• Do you ship COD?
• What taxes apply your product (this varies from state to state)?
• Do you have a merchant account?

What are a few examples of your own business rules?