Business can be a personal thing and sometimes people who start up their own companies can find themselves trying to do too much on their own.
Even if things begin to deteriorate financially - whether through the fault of the owner or not - it can be quite difficult for some people ask for help.
There is evidence to suggest however, that a problem shared can definitely be a problem halved.
A recent article in CNN Money entitled 'Love a local business? Buy a share: Sometimes it takes a village to fund a company' highlights the growing trend for communities to come to the aid of struggling businesses.
Whether the apparent increase is recession-induced or not is unknown, but whatever the reason, there is a definite team spirit sweeping through the country.
As well as the obvious benefit of maintaining their business, the selection of companies mentioned in the article will no-doubt profit further as a result of the online PR received through appearing on the CNN Money website.
Just like the collectives that came to their rescue, there are a number of businesses featured in the news provider's piece.
Comfort Lounge - a mostly organic eatery in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY - got into financial difficulty at the onset of the recession. Despite the owner John Halko's attempts to secure fresh loans, he found himself out of luck and staring closure in the face.
To the rescue came the community. Mr Halko exchanged $600 worth of credit towards restaurant meals in exchange for every $500 of 'Comfort Dollars' that local residents bought.
The situation was similar for Vox Pop, a popular coffee shop and book store in Brooklyn.
Having gotten itself into nearly $200,000 of debt, the business looked in trouble. However, by selling shares for $50 a go, the company was soon not only afloat, but doing pretty well.
A particular advantage of allowing the community to raise funds is that it's not just a rescue package - it's an investment for the people putting their money in.
In the example of Vox Pop, the business is not only benefitting from the initial funds from share sales, but the subsequent income from those same people visiting more often and pumping more money into the business.
These companies' decisions to open themselves up to the wider community have led them to not only draw increased attention from the local areas, but the US at large, now that they have featured on the pages of CNN Money.
It's unlikely they will have to ask the locals for help again.
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