Often times, the monotony of punching the clock as someone else's employee leads to day dreams of starting a business and being your own boss. In rough economic times, those day dreams may never pass beyond imagination. "Times are tough, how could I start my own small business now?" one thinks. That's rational thinking, but, counter-intuitively, a down economy can actually create great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs.

There are a variety of benefits to starting a small business during poor economic conditions. For starters, office rents could be lower and suppliers may cut better deals. Downturns are a great time to sign new accounts. Customers are examining every expense for ways to save, including asking eager entrepreneurs for price bids in order to replace current and expensive vendors.

An unfortunate reality of hard times is increased unemployment. But, for small business owners, this means more experienced talent is available in the marketplace, with more affordable salary requirements.