Being your own boss, having flexible time to work and a sense of achievement are some of the emotional paybacks that fuel small-business owners to do what they do.
New research released by NRMA Business Insurance shows the majority of small-business owners believe the emotional benefits of running their own business outweigh the financial return.
The NRMA Insurance Business Owner Sentiment Study (BOSS) surveyed more than 1,000 small-business owners and found they rated being the boss (66%), work flexibility (63%) and the sense of achievement (52%) above financial rewards (24%) of owning a business.
The research also revealed there is little down time for small-business owners with almost half (48%) admitting to losing sleep at night thinking about work. The most common concerns were managing cashflow (42%), balancing their professional and personal life (33%) and managing financial responsibilities (30%).
“Majority of small-business owners enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of managing their own business with more than 85% – telling us they would be willing to do it all over again,” said Mr Craig Wigginton, spokesperson for NRMA Business Insurance.
“Being accountable for running a business and managing employees can be stressful and time-consuming for even the most seasoned business owner, particularly when professional demands begin to impact personal wellbeing,” he said.
The study highlights that owning your own business can come with a high personal toll:
- One in three SME owners work more than 50 hours a week
- 37% take less than five days’ annual leave a year and 61% taking less than 10
- 43% have to miss an important family event because of work, and
- Over a third (37%) say their business has put a strain on their relationships.
To help provide extra support for time-poor business owners, NRMA Business Insurance has launched a new online service to offer customers free access to advice from qualified tax accountants and legal professionals.
“We’ve introduced this service because our research showed us that one in every two small-business owners would benefit from a helping hand with their tax and legal responsibilities,” said Wigginton.
“Getting help from a qualified professional will help to ensure you are receiving the correct information and guidance, setting your business up for greater success in the long run.”
The study also reveals that small-business owners are more likely to go to their industry peers (50%), their partner (50%) or their friends (48%) for business advice than a paid professional (32%). Women were found to be more likely than men to seek professional advice (37% against 28%).
“While friends, family and mentors can provide valuable advice when it comes to starting and growing a business, we would always recommend seeking support from an expert when it comes to financial and legal responsibilities,” said Wigginton.
“Our advice to small-business owners would be to identify key areas outside of your expertise where you would benefit from professional advice and plan for times where you might need this extra help, like in the new financial year.”
The 2016 NRMA Insurance Business Owner Sentiment Study is based on a quantitative survey of NRMA Business Insurance customers undertaken in June 2016. More than 1,000 small business owners employing less than 20 people in NSW, QLD, ACT and VIC were part of the survey.
Inside Small Business
