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Because my clients/customers are other businesses, I'd probably increase my base of clients in relatively "recession-proof" industries (like health care). Beyond that, as Diva suggests, it's just all the routine, common-sense things like ensuring a solid credit line, paying down debt, and building a reserve of cash. Also, I expect my firms to remain flexible enough to change any product, service, or process that is no longer working in order to take advantage of whatever new "opportunities" the market may be providing (whether those opportunities are due to a recession or something else).

Let me try to narrow it down a bit.

Obviously, every business is different, but I think a business owner can anticpate changes in customers's/clients' behavioral patterns in a recession. For example, if you are selling gift baskets, do you think people will continue to buy them in a recession? Or, if you are providing payroll services, do you think small business payrolls will shrink? What will you do in a worst case scenario like that? Change your pricing, offer smaller baskets in the first case; expand your service offerings to make up for the payroll losses in the second?

What sells in a recession market? Stuff that make people FEEL BETTER. Its a fact of business that happy things sell really well when the economy is flat. Women will always spend money on skin care and foo foo....chocolate anything comes to mind....

Small businesses that have good solid business practices and are not overloaded with employees should have no reason to shrink payroll.

However, having the right products to sell in a flat economy does not one bit of good if all of the Boy Scout rules are not adhered to. It seems to me that the scenarios you are proposing would be applicable to a larger business entity other than 'small business'.

I would like to know the reason behind the question(s) you are asking and the example(s) you are providing. There is a disparity there that defies logic.

slavaret

I like the question and I am interested in hearing what others will say but at the same time DomainDiva's boy scout rule applies across the board.

For instance I use to work for ADP and got in to the sales training business because of the great training I received at the company. They even hired me as a consultant to help new reps. When I first started they were my biggest client and then they went through a period where payrolls were shrinking and of course when they were looking to cut costs, consultants were the first to go. When I lost them and other large businesses I was working for I had to adapt so I went after the small business market, which has worked out even better for me. I have 22 current clients, I typically work on site 1 or 2 days a week and spend the rest of my time at home developing modules to teach new sales reps.

DomainDiva and all the other tech folks on the board, I will be reaching out to you when I am ready to put up my web site. I think my training modules would sell even to businesses I don't consult for.

So again slavaret, DomainDiva's advice of always being prepared is your best bet!

You have gotten some great answers. My crystal ball told me to look at the front page of today's
New York Times. Market and Dollar Sink As Slowdown Fears Grow.
In the 5th down paragraph it says "others worry that the economy is headed for a substantial slowdown,
possibly even a recession".
LUCKIEST

OK, guys, I am not downplaying the importance of good business practices. I was just looking more for things like you, Ed, are talking about. Obviously, having 22 clients vs. 1 is more secure, as all 22 are not likely to fire you at the same time. Having online courseware is great. My first job in the US back in 1988 was a bank teller. Back then banks were just getting into sales, and we, tellers, were required to sell - with no training provided. I checked out some materials at the bank's resource library. Some were on selling bank products, others - on general sales practices: closes, referrals, etc. That basic info went a long way in my financial sales career! Having that kind of info online is even better. Again, when people lose their jobs or hours, they tend to join multilevel marketing organizations or try to sell something. They may need sales training. Or they may need an edge to keep their job. Any way you look at it, having generic sales courseware online would be a great way to recession proof your business.