OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Small business owners said they're trying to stay optimistic in the face of the nation's economic crisis.

Laura O'Rourke, with the Culinary Center of Kansas City, said she doesn't believe in panicking.

"I practiced law for a long time, and I wrote securities, bonds and things like that, and I know that when the market goes down, the market will go back up, and when the market's up, it goes down," O'Rourke told KMBC's Peggy Breit.

O'Rourke said she knows she can't control how the economy is doing.

"We have some people who are a little nervous about booking Christmas parties because they don't really know where the economy's going," O'Rourke said.

The Culinary Center has been around for a decade, and it just expanded at the start of the year.

Kelly Scanlon is a small business owner who publishes the monthly magazine KC Small Business. Scanlon said she thinks local business owners are surprisingly upbeat, despite the Wall Street gloom.

"I've had a few recently telling me that they have to pay a little bit more attention to their accounts receivables and stay on those a little bit better, but by and large, they have done well in 2008, and they're going to do everything they can to continue that kind of growth into 2009," Scanlon said.

Scanlon said the optimistic outlook is fueled by the Midwest's financial conservatism, which is helping the region in a tough economy.

Experts said the business that are suffering are those whose livelihoods depend on one line of work or one type of customer.

Tips For Small Business Owners

Scanlon gave some tips on how businesses can weather an economic downturn:

Stay on top of your accounts receivable. Follow a collection schedule and adhere to it. Don't let late payers get out of hand. Remember, cash is king. A sale isn’t a sale until the money is in the bank.

Market yourself and your company. Studies show that companies that continue to invest in marketing during an economic downturn are much more apt to stay top of mind and maintain or increase market share than their competitors who pull back.

Revisit your business plan frequently. If you need to make adjustments, do so. The idea is to be proactive rather than reactive. Frequent reviews don't necessarily mean you'll be looking for ways to cut back; if you're a company with a solid financial situation, you may just discover opportunities as well. Be flexible, but don't spread yourself too thin.

Make sure your customer base is diversified. Don't tie all your business up in one or two customers.

Call your banker immediately if you get into trouble. Bankers want their customers to succeed. If they can, they would rather work with you than see you default. Remember to keep your personal credit in good shape, too, as that will also be scrutinized when you own a small business.

Don’t try to go it alone. Kansas City has rich resources when it comes to organizations that offer counseling assistance and advice to small businesses. Don't be afraid to call the Small Business Development Centers, the Women's Business Centers, and other business development organizations. You can find these and others at www.kcsmallbiz.com.

Stay positive. Don’t let worries about the economy stagnate an otherwise healthy business.