Local business owners face economic shifts—like demand swings, tighter credit, and rising input costs—because the local economy rarely moves in a straight line. You can’t control the cycle, but you can  build a business that bends instead of breaks: watch a few practical signals, protect cash flow, and lean on your community as an operating advantage (not just a feel-good story). What to do when the ground moves ●      Stabilize cash and capacity first (trim waste, protect ma