GROW

Thinking about growing your business? You're not alone.

More than ever before, Welsh business owners are showing increasing confidence and growing ambition. 94% of Welsh business owners in their first 3 years would like to grow their business, with 84% still having ambitions to do so after 15 years. And three quarters, 76%, feel excited or confident about growing their business.

The main reasons for wanting to grow are:

• a greater sense of achievement - 26%
• more money - 21%
• and a desire to be the best - 17%

47% of business owners in Wales class "peaks and troughs" in demand as the hardest thing about running a business, with paperwork / admin at 41% and regulations at 40%.

In terms of biggest benefit of running your own business - more flexibility and independence stand out as one of the highest ranking benefits at 69%, with job satisfaction and enjoying what you do, relatively close behind, at 49% and 56% respectively.

Recruitment is also a headache with 55% of those who had taken on staff having difficulty finding the right person.

Agree? Disagree? The becauseyoucan site is the site for discussion and sharing the views of like minded business owners. During the next 6 months the Vote option will be comparing the results of this research with your personal views.
(Source of research: Research now, 286 Welsh SME', May 2005).