The Regional Enterprise Center held its annual Entrepreneur Conference in West Liberty today. Small business owners talked about getting a business off the ground in rural Appalachia. Local business owners say they are feeling the burden of a struggling economy.

Some local business owners say if they had to start their business today, things would be different.

Belinda Jordan owns a local flower shop and says, "If my choice would be opening one today as to opening one in 1989, I wouldn't even think about considering to do it at this time."

Belinda Jordan says the economy is hurting small businesses.

"Gas has really played a factor for us. We deliver all of our orders. We're delivering flowers, we're delivering to the funeral home," says Jordan.

"You may need to lay off people. You're going to have to work more hours on your own, and that's a fact of life when you are self employed," says Brenda Morgan, a local business owner.

Even high school students looking to start a new business down the road say it seems to be intimidating.

"It's a big risk, you can borrow loans and make your money, but there's always that risk you might not make what you put back into it, says Emily Nickell, a Morgan County High School student.

Belinda Jordan says small town businesses don't have the traffic volume like big cites to build up their business.

"When you go someplace else they think they are getting something bigger and better by purchasing somewhere in Morehead or Lexington. They are getting the same product that we can offer you at a larger cost," says Jordan.

Jordan says shops like hers depend on local customers to stay in business.