How much you'll pay your employees or contractors depends on a number of factors. How much you can afford to pay is an obvious issue, but so is the “going” rate for their services. In general, the greater the responsibility or skill level that's required, the higher the pay will be.

If you can't afford the going rate, one solution might be to go with a part-time employee who may provide fewer hours than you really want but who will be more productive in those hours than someone who would accept a lower rate of pay for full-time work. You might also be able to find sales professionals who will work on a part- or full-commission basis so that their pay is pegged to the amount of business that they bring in. You can also consider bringing someone in as a limited partner or offering her some kind of equity in the business in return for a lower-than-industry wage. This situation often offers a greater incentive for her to work hard because she plays a role in the success of the business. This requires careful thought, however, as you may not wish to dilute your share of the business — and this step definitely requires legal advice.