Many businesses suffered when the economy took a turn for the worse from 2007 to 2009. The national housing bubble burst and resulted in a global financial crisis. Many people lost their jobs and their homes, and many businesses had to close.

It was especially detrimental to start-ups. Imagine trying to get your business off the ground when no one could even afford to walk in your store.

Despite the millions of stimulus checks that were distributed, many companies, large and small, had to shut their doors.

It's scary to think about, but that's always a possibility when you open your own business; you have to be prepared for such an eventuality. As much as you want to stay positive and always hope for the best for your new business, you also have to be smart and know what to do when sales are slow.