BizSugar.com › News and Politics › Small business owners need to redouble their efforts to bring in sales as economy slows down

The slowing economy and the possibility that we're headed for a recession are worrisome subjects for small business owners, whose biggest concern is how to keep sales coming in when customers are becoming shy about spending.

It's hard to say that small businesses in general are hurting because the economy is slowing. Many retailers — jewelers, for example — certainly had a rocky holiday season, but some companies that sell software to help other businesses cut costs are seeing greater demand for their products.

Evidence of a downshift in business doesn't come only in the form of lower sales. Customers taking longer to sign a contract or taking more time to pay are also signs that business is slowing — and both of these can wreak some havoc with a company's cash flow.