The year 2020 hit small businesses very hard.

Supply shortages, decrease in customer traffic and a significant decrease in profit.

Trying to recover from that year has not been any easier in 2021.

Farlow Real Estate Experts owner, Jeremy Farlow, has worked with many small businesses and has seen just how difficult this has been for them.

"Specifically, I’m thinking about the restaurants because I spend a lot of time working with them, trying to help them make it through last year,” Farlow said. “Last year was tough because nobody could go in and most of them didn't have curbside. So, that was a big deal. People were scared to come out, but then this year, it's been hard just getting everything that they need."

Through all of the struggles, business owners have had to change the way they run their establishments. The constant changing of COVID-19 guidelines have challenged many businesses, forcing them to move away from their normal ways.

"Businesses have had to adapt. Last year, we're talking about restaurants, the ones with drive-throughs soared, whereas the ones who didn't have the drive-throughs had to adjust and figure out a different way of doing it."

Adjusting can be a difficult process, but finding out what others are doing to move forward in this pandemic and getting out of your comfort zone, the change can be made a little easier.

"It's time to get creative,” Farlow said. “Read a book or two. Someone out there has already figured it out. All you have to do is read a book, figure out how they did it and then do it yourself. Always be innovative, always be trying something new, fall forward and just keep going."

Farlow knows that this time can be very hard on owners of small businesses, but by constantly exploring and sticking with it, things will all work out.

"The fighters are going to make it; they always have all through history. Nothing has ever shut the fighter down. So, all you have to do is figure out what's working, and you need to do it and you need to just stay at it. Simple, consistent effort will create massive results. Lots of people have figured it out. Follow what they are doing, and you'll make it. It'll be fine."