Axed by a big business? Start your own.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that thousands of Americans are considering starting their own business.

In most Decembers, “people are usually distracted from entrepreneurial things,” says Rich Sloan, cofounder of StartupNation.com. But this past December, the traffic on his website, which offers services to individuals interested in starting a business, was 80 percent higher than in past years. “We are seeing an incredible burst of entrepreneurial curiosity,” says Mr. Sloan, who lives in Sonoma, Calif.

Franchises often appeal to people who are accustomed to working for an established company. “It attracts people who have more operational experience, who are risk averse, [who] want to work with a formula” and be the person executing that formula, he says.

One of those people is Angela Dillen, who worked for 15 years at Citigroup in Dallas. She attended a “discovery” day for Massage Heights, a franchise business that offers individuals an opportunity to start their own small therapeutic spa businesses. “I liked their operations and how they support us,” she says. She has set up her business in Keller, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. “The customers come out glowing and happy, so it’s a nice environment to work in every day.”

Despite tighter bank lending standards, Ms. Dillen was able to secure a bank loan guaranteed by the SBA.

Running a franchise also appealed to Vickie Tompkins of Beaverton, Ore., who spent 30 years in production manufacturing and as a quality-control supervisor in the chemical and circuit-board industries.

She lost her job as part of a downsizing in December 2007. After eight months of research, she bought a franchise from Synergy HomeCare, which provides nonmedical help to people in their homes.

“I’ve had a marketer help me” launch the business, she says. “I go to functions, introduce myself to nurses, hand out fliers [and] business cards, and visit rehab centers. Now, I can’t wait to be able to help someone [else].”

Deborah Jack of Fort Lee, N.J., also wants to help people – and their pets. In 2006, Ms. Jack lost her job on Wall Street in a restructuring. In May 2007 she purchased a franchise called Fetch! Pet Care. Now, she walks dogs and employs people who dog sit or provide other pet care services.

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