9 in 10 Surveyed Choose Entrepreneurship, Despite the Sacrifices (Infographic)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Realizing the American dream through entrepreneurship isn’t easy, as a recent study shows.
Online lender OnDeck surveyed more than 800 small business owners across the country and those responses provide a snapshot of what entrepreneurs face right now.
“A majority of those surveyed felt the average person didn’t understand how hard it was to drive a business forward,” said Andrea Gellert, chief marketing officer at OnDeck. "We should all recognize the dedication business owners have to growing our local Main Streets, and in turn, our economy."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}OnDeck found that more than half surveyed work more than 50 hours per week and that 9 in 10 work weekends. By comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that just one-tenth of the American population worked more than 49 hours a week in 2014 with the average non-state employee clocking in around 35 hours a week.
Related: Your Workday Is Interrupted Every 11 Minutes. How to Manage Those Distractions.
Despite the extra time and effort small businesses need, 65% of those surveyed by OnDeck say entrepreneurship has put them in a better financial position than if they had an employer. A whopping 90% say they'd never look back.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Although entrepreneurs work long hours, more than half surveyed say they still have work/life balance, as technology plays a major role in giving business owners more flexibility, explains Gellert.
For more insights from the survey, check out the infographic below from OnDeck.
Related: American 'Work Martyrs' Are Too Afraid to Take Time Off, Study Finds