Crossroads: Payroll service

Rob Basso,owner of Advantage Payroll Services, a Freeport company that serves many small businesses on Long Island.

Economic outlook: The economy would recover and grow more quickly if there were fewer taxes, regulations and other governmental obstacles to business.

Job outlook: The prospects for those in high-tech industries or for the highly educated are good.

I think with the growth and potential of renewable energy products and services, as well as some high-tech ventures, I think that's where this Island is going and where it should go.

Some of the assets that we have that will help this region are our great universities. Between Hofstra University, Stony Brook and all the significant educational facilities that we have . . . we've got a tremendous brain trust here on Long Island.

I think there's just going to be more high-tech jobs. I think there's going to be more people using the Web to make their livings than there are now. Only the strong will survive, so no matter what you do, you better be on the top of your game because competition in every business is getting steeper because of technology and the use of it. And you don't have to have $1-million seed money to have a million-dollar idea and bring a winning concept to the marketplace.