Your key concerns

First the good news. Over half (55%) of small business owners who took part in our survey find that owning a business has a positive affect on their lives. ‘It is the most satisfying and liberating experience I can imagine and a fundamental part of my life that I could not surrender’ said one respondent.

But a number of respondents hold the opposite view. 34% said that running a business causes them concerns.

It would also seem that the general economic climate is making things a lot tougher than before for some respondents:

‘It was once very rewarding, offering a good income and work/life balance. But now we work over 80 hours a week and still ends don’t meet.’   

Despite that, we also discovered the following

• 46% of businesses intend to expand in the next 12 months compared to 27% in wave 1
• 22% want to maintain current levels of business

Our survey sought to discover what most concerns small business owners at the moment.

Given the wider economic climate it is unsurprising that nearly half – 44% - of respondents are focused on gaining new customers.

‘I aspire to gain more customers to help us reach our full potential capabilities’ was one respondent’s view.

However ensuring a good life/work balance is still an important concern for many and was the second most important priority. It would seem that being self employed is not just about gaining more business; it’s about getting more out of life too.