Partner Article

Home businesses jump by 16%

The credit crunch has encouraged thousands of would-be entrepreneurs to start their own business from home, a new report has found.

The Home Business Report, by Enterprise Nation and BT, found the number of people starting home-based businesses has jumped by 16%, putting the number of home businesses in the UK up to 2.5 million.

Home-based entrepreneurs are significantly more optimistic than their office-based counterparts, the research found, with nearly three quarters planning to entice more customers over the next six months, two thirds intending to increase turnover, and more than half developing new products or services.

A third of the survey’s respondents cited the freedom to make their own decisions as the most important reason for starting their own business, while a quarter said they wanted to improve their work/life balance.

A third of entrepreneurs said they run their business in their spare time.

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “The report calls for action to encourage home businesses, including asking the government to look at the economic, environmental and social benefits of homeworking.

“It asks Regional Development Agencies to include home business targets in Regional Economic Strategies, calling for changes to the planning system and on Local Authorities to invest in home business hubs and networking facilities and to give out clear information about planning permission and business rates.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .