Small business owners say main concern is finding new customers

Small business owners feel tethered to their business. More than half (56%) say they feel they can’t escape their business and 51% say they have little time to focus on themselves. However, the freedom to try new things and make their own mistakes makes it all worthwhile, say nearly 6 in 10.

But what is the top business concern for a small business owner? While many might think it is taxes and healthcare, Constant Contact’s report, ‘Personal Sacrifices/Professional Rewards of Small Business Owners‘, points to ‘finding new customers’ as top of the worry list (66%) followed by having enough time to do everything (55%), retaining existing customers (40%), paying bills (32%) and keeping up with constantly advancing technology (30%).

However, 84% of small business owners said that despite the time spent running their businesses and the associated stresses, if they had to do it all again, they would. Top of the list of why they love what they do is being able to pursue their passion (62%), the freedom to control their professional life (59%), the flexibility (50%) and being their own boss (41%).

“How many people can say they love what they do? As this survey shows, while being a small business owner may be one of the toughest jobs in America, it’s also one of the most rewarding,” says Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact. “Small business owners face incredible professional challenges that often impact every aspect of their lives. Yet their job represents their passion, and that seems to make the sacrifices worth it. It’s also that passion that can translate to a great customer experience, which is why so many of us prefer to shop at, or work with, a small business over a larger competitor.”