• Accounting Specialist - Accountants can help you with much more than taxes: budget & planning, bookkeeping, and deciding which business structure is right for you.  When you are choosing an accounting specialist, make sure that you ask her experience working with small business owners.    

• Commercial Realtor - There is no one who is better qualified than a commercial realtor to find the space that is right for your business, in terms of layout, location, zoning, and any other factor that will be important for the success of your business.

• Insurance Agent - Insurance agents can help educate you on what type of insurance plan or plans you need as well as which ones will be most affordable.  With property insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, liability insurance, and many other choices, it helps to have a professional who understands the maze of insurance options.

• Legal Specialist - Every small business owner knows that legal questions are bound to come up.  Whether this involves copyright law, actually setting up the business, employment policies, or any of the many other legal issues that are associated with running a business, you will want someone who you can trust.  Find a legal specialist who has small business expertise so that you know that your business will be in capable hands.

• Commercial Banker - A commercial banker is invaluable when dealing with business loans, merchant accounts, business checking, business lines of credit, or any other financial issue that may come up.  Business bankers know how to be flexible in order to best meet the needs of a small business and can be extremely helpful. 

• Business Coach - Anyone who has attempted to start a small business knows that there are questions which can only be answered by someone else in the business.  This is where a business coach comes in.  This person is not only able to answer questions relating to your business or industry but can provide support, guidance, and ideas in a positive way, allowing you to support your employees in turn.

• Marketing Specialist - A marketing specialist is someone you will definitely want to have on your team!  Every business needs marketing – it doesn't help to have the most incredible service in the world if no one knows about it.  Marketing specialists know the best ways to reach your target audience, no matter who that might be.

• Information Technology Specialist - In these days of e-commerce and computerized inventory, it is essential that you include an information technology specialist on your team.  This person can help with hardware and software purchases, with database administration, intranet setup, and any other computer and technology needs that your particular business may have.

• Handyperson - A handyperson may be the person on your team who saves your sanity most often!  This person can be called upon to do everything from dealing with the plumbing to building custom bookcases to determining why the heating and air condition system isn't functioning.  Again, this may not be a full-time person, but it is a person who is essential for the sanity and well-being of you and your team!
  
  Remember, no small business is an individual project.  To have a  successful business, you need to draw on the strengths of everyone on your team.

  Building Your Business

  Many people have the idea that entrepreneurship is something to be attempted during strong economic times and avoided in a weak economy.  But is this really true?  Entrepreneurs can actually thrive in difficult economic times, if they are able to provide what people need or want at the time. 

  No matter how the economy is doing, good service can only help any entrepreneur's business.  Especially during rough economic times, when people may be forced to cut out many small luxuries, they appreciate service that goes above and beyond what they expect.  This is true of any business or industry: no matter what product or service you are providing, make sure you build relationships with your customers so that you understand their needs.   

  Even during a recession, people still spend money.  The change is that they may be more likely to spend money on maintenance of what they already have rather than investing in new items or experiences.  Consumers may be slower to commit to spending money and more careful with financial decisions, but ultimately, money still gets spent. 

  As an entrepreneur during a down economy, it is important not to focus on fear of economic downturns, but instead to focus on how you can improve and market your business.