National chains say their franchise owners do better in a bad economy. This recession could put that safety net to the test. NTHESEDAYS OF "GREEN" EVERYTHING, human recycling is hot too. Thanks to layoffs, there's no shortage of slightly used, perfectly good people hunting for work. Take Jon Mcintosh. In 2007 the 51-year-old mortgage banker found himself downsized for the fifth time in his career and decided it would be his last. Looking to "do something worthwhile and lasting," he tapped his 401(k) account for USD110,000 and opened up a business providing home health care to aging boomers - thus becoming one of America's nearly 1 million franchise owners.
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