Four out of five start-up owners (84 per cent) are either confident or somewhat confident about their strategy for growth in 2014, with their business priorities reflecting this ambition.
The “Tech and the Beanstalk” research report surveyed over 250 start-up business owners and their considerations for the coming year. Increasing profits (29 per cent) and growing their customer base (25 per cent) were the top two priorities for these audiences entering 2014.
The survey also revealed that access to lending from banks (13 per cent) and increases in tax and interest rates (13 per cent) were the top issues that start-up owners in the UK view as challenges this year.
Paul Callaghan, Partner at international law firm Taylor Wessing said: Retaining competitive advantage by being smart and nimble about the issues faced today will lead to the growth and survival of UK start-up businesses tomorrow. Its positive to see that with the right support, UK business owners are confident about business prospects in 2014.
Business priorities for SME owners in 2014:
- Increasing profits (29 per cent);
- Growing customer base (25 per cent);
- Cutting costs (11 per cent);
- International expansion (nine per cent);
- Improving customer service (seven per cent);
- Accessing funding (seven per cent);
- Protecting data and intellectual property (five per cent); and
- Investing in product/ service innovation (three per cent).
Key challenges for 2014s small business owners:
- Access to lending from banks (13 per cent);
- Increases in tax and interest rates (13 per cent);
- Increasing costs e.g. energy and travel (11 per cent);
- Retaining and boosting competitive USPs (11 per cent);
- Skills shortages (nine per cent);
- Transitioning from start up to SME (nine per cent);
- Accessing international markets (seven per cent);
- Overregulation (seven per cent);
- Economic volatility (six per cent); and
- Compliance and regulatory issues (five per cent).
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