Outside and Professional Services You Will Need - Lawyers, Accountants and Consultants Oh My!

Virtual companies have been a trend for many years. Recently they are common because many people are unemployed and willing to work for equity instead of for nothing - but this is not a sustainable strategy and needs to be used with care and good timing. What areas do you only need a small slice of a full-time person and should use an outside consultant anyway? How do you identify the best and not spend your life interviewing? How do you maintain a relationship that prevents your competitors from using the same person and getting access to your best ideas?