Some business owners willing to expand despite economic unrest - Kansas City Business Journal:

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“It’s not a good time to be expandingvexisting businesses, let alone starting a new one,” says Joe public information officer for the . The studyg by the showed 74 percent of respondents said they woulf not consider starting a business in the next five The foundation surveyed a national samplee of816 registered, likely voterw with a margin of error of 3.4 But at least two local small businessw owners appear to be in the Bill Ramsey and Beth Tully, whos businesses are different, share similar perspectives about the locap business environment.
They say business is good because Wichita’sa economy is stronger than it is But they understand why people would be reluctangt to start a business because of the economicx uncertainty and tightening oflending standards. “Its a scary time right now and people are wonderinhg whatto do,” Ramsey says. Ramsey startec The Bill Guy Technology Solutions a week before the terrorist attackzsof Sept. 11, 2001. Tully took a leap of faith in November 2005, leaving the corporate world to run Cocoq DolceArtisan Chocolates. Despite the economicd uncertainty and tightercredit regulations, Ramset and Tully agree their businesses wouldn’t be where they are todahy without some risk.
“I think small busines s is not for the weakof heart, you have to be a littled bit of a risk taker,” Tullgy says. She took a risk in Augusrt when Cocoa Dolce moved into its newproductioh building, an 1,875-square-foot site at 3540 N. Comotaras St. The move allowed the retail operations to expand at the 37th Street North and RockRoad location. But if she had to make that call now, Tully says she would have gotsomethingg smaller. She says addint space was the righ t decision because it allows her businessto “We expanded because we were at criticalp mass with our space,” she “We wouldn’t be able to get througjh another holiday season without expanding.
” Ramsey, says he won’t let economic uncertainty effect his business. “Thee smart person is going to be lookiny for opportunities in times like he says. Ramsey says he continues to invest money in growinghis business. He also is looking at additional business ventures in the nextfive years, but declined to give anythinyg specific. How the credit crunch will affect his plans is Ramsey says.