Why today is a good day to start a start-up

Starting a new business always comes at a risk -- about half of small businesses fail within their first five years. It is also not an easy time to start one, given tighter lending standards, higher energy and food prices, and weaker consumer spending. Yet these types of conditions certainly didn't stop Bill Gates from starting Microsoft in 1975, during another grim recession.

The truth is, starting a business right now could be smarter than ever. While corporate America is by and large still hunkered down, taking few risks, there may be some advantage in the versatility of a start-up. But even better, here are three big reasons why this might be the right time to take the leap:

1. Rents are low. With hundreds of commercial properties sitting empty and landlords reevaluating their pricing, you may be able to get into an excellent space for cheaper than ever. You may also be able to negotiate more agreeable terms on the lease than in stronger economic times, such as shorter terms or lower increases. Or, if it isn't time to get your own space just yet, a virtual office or executive suite may be for you. With flexible terms, affordable leases, and turn-key services, providers of such services are often a life-saver for cash-strapped nascent companies. Supplies and support services may also be cheaper. Suppliers may be willing to cut deals that they never would have in a strong economy.

2. Good employees will be easier to find than ever. With so many people looking for jobs, few have the freedom to be choosy and to "wait it out" for a better salary. Now more than ever, the best and brightest will be easier to come by and for much cheaper than you would expect.

3. The startup is all about you. Regardless of the economic conditions, the most important element of a startup is the starter. Combine a smart, innovative, versatile business model with a driven, persistent entrepreneur, and you have a recipe for success in any market. Of course, investors and customers alike will be tighter, but these conditions are not necessarily new to the startup. Investors are always fickle, and one can never predict what the customer will choose. If anything, now is a good time to capitalize on the tighter economy by creating a product that helps people or businesses save money.

The moral of the story is, if you have a vision, pursue it. Naturally, it is important to ensure that the plan is sound, the goals reasonable, and the risks accounted for, but with a proper roadmap the only boundary to success is imagination. The greatest among us are those who follow their vision.