I can see a number of ways that the economy is going to affect this industry. We've already mentioned how business is for a few companies, but you always have to consider the opportunity cost of being in this business as an individual. What are you giving up to run a business? Are you giving up a full time job? Could you have made more money somewhere else? While this time last year, it may have been a good time for you to chase your dream and start a business, perhaps you're also trying to start a family and you can't give up the income you used to see in order to build a profitable business that can support you and your family. There is more to the situation than just a loss of clients and revenue. It becomes more personal and opportunities always need to be weighed. If you can play in the NFL, why would you be a waiter? You might enjoy it, but it's not economically efficient for you based on your skill set. For some, being in this business is optimal, but for others (probably more) there are other opportunities available that can provide a greater income. Some may take advantage of that, while others may not.
As for the company side of things, business start ups are going to be fairly rare as the downturn progresses, so we will most likely see a decrease in new clients. Some clients may have to leave because they need to find a less expensive option or cannot afford to stay in business any longer and need to go back to a day job. Right now, you can't really predict anything.
It's definitely going to be an interesting ride for everybody regardless of what industry they're in. This is the time to really focus on making smart decisions and not acting marginally.