Small business owners 'need more family time'

Date: 31st March 2008

Small business owners are sacrificing family time, in order to ensure their business succeeds, a study by software company KashFlow has revealed.

Around 32 per cent of small business owners admitted to forgoing family time in order to concentrate on business issues.

Commenting on the research Duane Jackson, managing director of KashFlow, said: "The research was commissioned to help us to gain a better understanding of the personal sacrifices small businesses are undertaking to ensure business success. The findings have provided a valuable insight into what measures can be taken in order to assist small businesses with their struggles."

It emerged that small business owners would have significantly more time on their hands if the administrative burden of running a company was eased.

Scotland-based business owner Sandra Patterson said that she has little free time to spend with her daughters, as a result of running her own business.

However, she added that once her company is well-established the "girls will see the benefit".

According to a study by Barclays, around 60 per cent of small business owners work longer hours than the average employee.