Today's economy isn't doing anyone any favors, and if you're one of the unfortunate folks who have been laid off, you might be facing a long haul searching for another job. Is now the right time to put your long-lingering business idea into practice? While times may be tight for some large enterprises, in many cases smaller, more-nimble companies are better able to withstand market uncertainty and to weather downturns.

The best way to stick it to The Man? Start working for yourself by founding your own company. Starting a business doesn't have to mean spending thousands of dollars on setup costs before you evei- open your doors. Don't be suckered into spending loads of money on services that you don.'t need or that have far che!aper alternatives. Seriously: With a mere it's possible to obtain everything you require to start just about any business online, with only minimal need to stir from your desk. Here's how to do it.