In the last

two months, the numbers have staggered the metro Atlanta

region: Coca Cola laying off 6,000 workers, BellSouth

laying off more than 2,000.

With job

uncertainty growing more prevalent, more workers are

taking their future in their own hands and striking out

on their own with a home-based business.

Last year

in Fayette County, there were 900 home businesses,

according to the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. But

Darrel Hall, who is co-chair of the Chamber's Home Based

Business Council, said he's heard that there are now more

than 1,200 in the county.

The reasons

are numerous. Many companies are letting employees work

at home to cut down on traffic congestion and air

pollution, but many people are just deciding take their

future into their own hands.

Hall worked

in the hospital industry for 15 years and was dumped in a

corporate cutback. He vowed that would never happen again

and started a Web site design company, which is growing

Nationally,

he said there are 37 million home businesses and the

number is expected to jump to 50 million by 2002.

Home

businesses come in all shapes and sizes. In Fayette

County, businesses range from photographers to realtors

and insurance companies.

The key

factor in many people striking out on their own is the

technology available today. With the Internet playing a

bigger role in today's business community, the world is

growing smaller and it's far easier to manage a home

business.

If you want

to start a business in the comfy confines of your home,

make sure to check the regulations in your town or county

first. The county's municipalities all have different

regulations, but all try and maintain the residential

character of the neighborhood.

If you're

successful, Hall said, there's no better feeling.

"I'm

like that woman in Gone With the Wind. I'll never be

hungry again."