Dubbo Chamber of Commerce president Matt Wright is suggesting business owners operating amid the coronavirus outbreak keep communication lines open and reach out for help.
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He urged them to have "difficult conversations early" and to be on the front foot with other crucial relationships.
It comes as a swathe of local businesses are impacted by national restrictions imposed by governments in an effort to arrest the march of COVID-19.
"As business owners, they're going to have some tough conversations with their staff and probably have some difficult conversations with landlords and their lenders, if they've got one, their accountant even, so get in, have those conversations now," Mr Wright said.
"I think they'll be some businesses travelling all right but somewhere along the horizon in the not too distant future they may be experiencing some difficulties with cash flow and income and managing their business, so I think having those conversations now is really important."
A problem shared could also be a problem halved.
"Even chatting to other businesses, whether they are similar businesses or otherwise, but just have a chat with other businesses and discuss some of those problems they're facing and you may be able to come up with a solution that you had never thought of previously," Mr Wright said.
"Crisis does breed innovation, there are some great business owners in this city that have come up with some great ideas, so share the ideas and hopefully we can share that success to get through what's going to be a really tough three to six months."
There were 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within Western NSW Local Health District by 8pm Wednesday.