Websters dictionary defines an outage as "a failure or interruption in use or functioning," or, "a period of interruption of electric current." Most of us are familiar with the latter, whereby the electricity to your home goes out due to a storm, and your computer systems shut down and turn back on when power is restored. But what happens when the auction service provider or Internet service provider you use is inaccessible?

Many of you may remember a few months back when the plug was pulled permanently for Internet service provider @HOME. Subscribers were provided with several choices: terminate service, change providers, or accept a replacement. Business owners had to rewrite their business cards and marketing materials. At least in this case, people were given some advance notice.

Whether it's a permanent outage due to bankruptcy or the more common temporary power outage, it is a fact of life that outages in some shape or form occur from time to time. It's not a matter of "if" an outage will occur, it's "when."

Don't be left with just your flashlight when the next outage strikes. What can you do today to protect your investments and business income?

First, diversify. Sell on multiple auction sites, use different auction-management services and have access to different Internet Service Providers. (To view other ISP services offered in your area, try looking at http://thelist.internet.com.) Some also believe in ending auctions at different times to minimize the impact of an outage.

Second, have a system for regularly backing up your data. If you only store your files in one location online, and a permanent outage occurs, you are in trouble. (Remember when image-hosting service Photopoint went offline? Many people lost the only copy of their photographs.) For backup purposes, I personally like Smart Media cards. But an extra computer's hard drive, zip drives, and floppy disks would also suffice. The key is to initiate a regular backup system. Also, consider storing backups in a location separate from your computer in case there is a fire.

Third, request a copy of your service provider's "outage policy," and make sure they follow it and continually reevaluate it. For example, eBay's outage policy is available at http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-extn.html. If your auctions are directly affected by an outage that is more than 1 hour, request a refund if it is not automatically provided.

Finally, evaluate your present insurance coverage and see if you can obtain business and service interruption insurance. Read the policy carefully to make sure it covers power outages.

Many people don't realize that a homeowner's insurance policy offers limited or no protection for home-based businesses operated from within the home. The cost of adding a small-business rider to your existing homeowner's insurance policy can range from several hundred dollars a year to the hundreds of thousands. Small sellers would typically fall at the bottom of the range, and you should buy no less and no more than what you need. If you, your family or employees depend on auction sales for your livelihood, you can't afford to not have some type of insurance.

Protect your business income by being prepared, and avoid being crippled by the next outage. When was the last time you checked if your flashlight had good batteries?

Author's Disclaimer: Please consult a professional with the appropriate credentials to help you accomplish your unique objective. No attempt in made in this article to advise you in proceeding.