This is a candid commentary about my heart-wrenching search to see if I can keep my small business open, or if I need to close the doors after almost 20 years.

If for no other reason, I am writing as a cathartic experience, to allow me to come to terms with my choices.

Should my business close, it won't make a difference to anyone I know, except my family,

my few employees and their ability to pay rent. Of course I will have to find another source of income right away, to allow for the sundry expenses and operating obligations through the end of my contracts (phone, building lease, internet contracts and more) and my mortgage, living costs and expenses I haven't thought of for a while. Even the IRS and NOLO have a site with advice.

In this weak economy, and in the current direction if sales, drawing a straight line between income present and income past shows a downward direction, now well below maintaining a net loss of zero. As it is, I've tapped the business line of credit already, and I'm thousands in the hole.

Fortunately, I have a fountain of energy in a wonderful and encouraging (new) wife;
I value her and her opinion, and have limited resources to keep me afloat, like so many Americans, for about 6 months with some belt-tightening.

So, should I keep my B2B web business open, or... ?

Please take the poll and comment on your kind or frank observations. I value your opinion and ideas, Newsvine.