According to the New York Times, a study by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that 8.6 percent of laid-off workers started their own business last year.

Though starting a business can be a daunting proposition, government small business resource Business.gov offers some suggestions for starting a business without the assistance of huge loans or venture capital.

Home technology and network access permits potential business owners to get creative. Many businesses seek virtual assistants for computer tasks, or consultants for social media, search engine optimization, mobile phone utilization or ecommerce. Further, many laid-off employees find work as consultants in the very industry in which they lost their jobs.

Local considerations can also lead to work. As the recession starts to subside, interest in hiring out labor related to pets, childcare, home upkeep and landscaping increases.

Niche-based industries are also developing related to food, with more educated consumers increasingly seeking food that caters to a certain taste or health need.

The Small Business Administration's most recent data shows that self-employed firms constitute more than three-quarters of all firms in the United States.