The number of small business owners troubled by current economic woes continues to rise. Are you among them? A recent "Small Business Monitor" survey by OPEN from American Express indicates 56 percent of businesses are experiencing cash flow issues and four out of 10 of those surveyed plan to scale back staff. "Like most Americans, SBOs are concerned about the uncertain economy," according to a press statement from Susan Sobbott, president OPEN from American Express. "However, true to their resilient, entrepreneurial spirit, they tell us that they remain focused on opportunities for the future and growing their business."

Interestingly, 71 percent of entrepreneurs still plan to grow their business in the next six months but some of that is influenced by age and location. For example, those owners over the age of 60 were most optimistic about what's to come. While out of the 68 percent of owners who already had future hiring plans to support growth, the majority of those were located in the south.

Another tidbit of interest is that despite the current troubles (from slowing receivables to rising costs), nine out of 10 surveyed said, overall, they still see the entrepreneurial glass as "half-full." And to combat potential problems, nearly half invest at least 10 hours a week thinking about new ideas and how to be more innovative in order to grow. From ways to solicit new business to developing more payment options for customers, these small business owners are counting on innovation, creativity and optimism to pull them through to better times. Is your consulting business experiencing a slowdown? If so, let us know what you are doing to stimulate growth, again.