You’re not failing. You’re facing something. There’s a difference.
Every downtown business owner hits stretches where things feel harder than they should. Sales slow down. Cash flow gets tight. The energy that used to carry you through long days starts to fade.
If that’s where you are right now, here’s what we want you to know: asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. Waiting too long to ask is the real risk.
The Trap of Waiting
Most business owners we talk to waited longer than they should have. They thought things would turn around next month. They didn’t want to admit they were struggling. They figured they should be able to solve it themselves.
By the time they reached out, small problems had become big ones.
The earlier you act, the more options you have. A business with a temporary cash flow issue has different choices than one that’s three months behind on rent.
A Loan Won’t Fix Everything
Here’s something that’s hard to hear: money doesn’t solve every problem.
If your underlying issue is that you don’t have enough customers, a loan just postpones the reckoning. If your costs are out of control, more capital buys time—but it doesn’t fix the math.
Before you apply for financing, ask yourself:
- Do I understand why I’m struggling?
- Will this money address the root cause—or just the symptoms?
- What happens in six months if nothing else changes?
Sometimes a loan is exactly the right tool. But it can also just make things worse when what you really need is a better strategy, adjusted pricing, different hours, or a marketing approach that actually reaches customers.
Most of the funding options will want to know your plan for how a loan will get you back on track, so figure out the problem first. Then figure out the solution. Take a moment and revisit the business fundamentals. The SBA has an excellent and well-organized library of materials for businesses at any stage. Working your way through these can be a means of identifying problems as well as the solutions.
Be Honest About What’s Really Happening
It’s easy to point to things outside your control. The economy. The weather. Construction on the street. A slow season that never seemed to end.
These factors are real, and they do affect your business. But here’s the hard question: is the problem truly external—or is something inside the business that needs attention?
Other businesses downtown face the same economy and the same weather. Some are doing okay. What’s different?
This isn’t about blame. It’s about focus and priorities. You can’t control interest rates or road closures or whether it rains every weekend in June. But you can control your hours, your pricing, your customer experience, your marketing, and how you spend your time.
Spend your energy on what you can actually change. If external factors are genuinely the issue, the best response is still to strengthen what’s within your control—so you’re better positioned when conditions improve.
Five Steps When Things Feel Off
1. Look at yourself and your business honestly. When did things shift? Is revenue down, or are costs up? Is there really a market for what I’m selling? Which products or services are performing—and which aren’t? You can’t fix what you don’t understand.
2. Talk to someone outside your head. The Gannon University SBDC and Ben Franklin Technology Partners both offer free, confidential consulting for exactly this situation. They’ve helped hundreds of business owners work through challenges. You don’t need a polished presentation—just bring your questions and your numbers.
3. Identify what’s actually broken. Is it a marketing problem? A pricing problem? A location problem? A product-market fit problem? A personal capacity problem? Each has different solutions. Be honest with yourself about what’s really happening.
4. Make one change at a time. When you’re anxious, it’s tempting to change everything at once. Resist that urge. Pick the highest-impact change and give it time to work before adjusting again.
5. Tell someone you trust. Whether it’s another business owner, your landlord, or MCRC—let someone know what you’re facing. People can’t help if they don’t know you need it.
Where to Go for Help
Gannon University SBDC — Free, confidential business consulting. They help with financial analysis, strategic planning, and working through tough decisions. sbdcgannon.org
Ben Franklin Technology Partners — Their Transformation Business Services Network team of experts nurtures and assists early-stage businesses, providing hands-on support and expert advice, all at no cost. cnp.benfranklin.org/programs-resources/transformation-business-services
MCRC — We’re here to support downtown businesses. If you’re struggling, reach out. We can connect you to resources that can help you think through options. meadvillecrc.org
You’re Not Alone in This
Running a business is hard. Admitting it’s hard is harder. As a business owner you have so many responsibilities competing for your time and you can’t afford to ignore any of them. When the business starts to struggle, you can find yourself triaging what’s important and what’s not, except that it’s all important. Don’t go it alone or worse, ignore things altogether.
You built something worth fighting for. Don’t let pride or fear keep you from getting the support you need to keep it going.
Free resources exist. The community wants you to succeed. Reaching out for help is good for everyone. It might not get easier right away once you do, but at least you’ll have a plan to get through it.
See our Business Resources page for a full list of free on-demand training, accelerator programs, funding opportunities, and more.