Anything outsourced When companies begin laying off employees, they still need to perform. That often means finding outsourcers to fill the gap between limited inside resources and what the company needs to have done, says Al Napier, professor of management at the Jones Graduate School of Management, Rice University, Houston. Everything from accounting services to outplacement to debt collection can be outsourced, the professor notes. It's the first thing that comes to mind when you ask what are good businesses to be in during bad economic times. Temporary staffing Just like outsourcing, temp agencies do well in recessions as companies seek outsiders to help get work done.
Companies save money on temps because they can be deployed according to demand.
You can call them in one day and not the next, depending on workload. Leasing companies Companies that lease capital equipment are in demand during lean times when businesses can't afford to buy what they need outright or don't want the long-term commitment, according to Marcia Layton Turner, author of The Unofficial Guide to Starting a Small Business . It's not just businesses that try to save money in bad times. Consumers also cut back. Many will elect to take on projects themselves instead of hiring someone to do it.