Small businesses suffer in slow economy

When he opened the Unique Physique Fitness center on Lubrano Drive in Annapolis four years ago, Brian Clark never expected the economy to get this bad.

Typically, extras like personal fitness training are the "first thing to go" when consumers cut back, he said.

Now, Mr. Clark, whose private gym provides everything from aerobics to Pilates, is keeping his fingers crossed that sales will pump back up with some new initiatives.

Mr. Clark said he's running some new referral campaigns, lowering rates for personal training packages and working with clients to help them avoid large up-front...