Today's economy has many business owners wondering about what they should do for their business. They're seeing their daily, weekly, and monthly gross income going down because consumers are no longer spending like they used to. People today are afraid of the future. Today's news media has created a fear that people will be laid off and that they will be waiting in bread lines. While this is great, if you're selling advertising on a news network it creates a problem for business owners.

Let's first start with taking a look at what you've been doing for the last 12 to 24 months. How does your balance sheet look? Did you make a profit? Are you happy with the results you've been getting in your business? are your customers still buying the things they bought just 12 to 24 months ago? In today's economy people just are not spending like they used to. Things that were necessities are now luxury items.

Getting creative in your business today is important. You've got to ask yourself what you should be selling and will you sell enough of it to make it profitable? the most creative business owners are now creating continuity programs also known as subscription services that allow them to better manage their business and more consistently get their cash flow.

Open up your personal checkbook. Look at what you have been spending your money on over the last 3 to 6 months consistently. Can you turn some of those monthly bills that everyone spends their money on into cash flow for your business? according to the National Retail Federation, we are committed to using today's technology. More than 80% of us wouldn't give up Internet access. Almost 2/3 wouldn't cancel a cell phone, and more than 60% would never drop cable or satellite television.

Obviously, you want to be selling what people are buying. Today people have raised their expectations. We now expect others to have cell phones and to be able to accept our text messages. For entertainment, people are now watching more satellite or cable as it's already a part of their monthly expenditure. As you look over your own personal finances, it begins to come obvious that the things you spend your own money on are the same things your customers are spending their money on.

If you're wondering where some of your regular customers have gone, they still like you and your company but they've had their hours or been laid off altogether and are just no longer spending their money like they used to. Others, have bought into the fear that is taking place daily in the news. Business owners today must be prudent about where they spend their money and how they will continue to have a profitable business in the future. For example: People who used to rent limousines to get to the airport are now asking friends to take them instead.

As the stock market continues to rock people's confidence levels it makes it tough for a business owner to have consistent cash flow in their business. Businesses that were doing $4000 a day are now seeing their business average $2000-$3000. And for smaller businesses, it just makes it worse. Those that would normally spend $80-$100 eating out on Friday night are now settling for a $20 pizza.

In the end, no matter how long this recession shall last you're still going to get to two years from today. The question is Will you be where you are today?, will you be selling the same things? Will you be working harder? Take the extra time you have now and invest that in education, so two years from today you'll be a better business owner.