1 in 3 want to be the boss

One in three Britons wants to run their own business, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Extrasys, a remote desktop solutions specialist. The research also reveals that of the 2,060 Britons questioned, 37 per cent want to start their own business in the next three years.

If these figures are applied to the current British working population, it could mean an explosion of over three million business start-ups by the end of 2009.

Britons aged 18-29 are the most receptive to the idea of running their own business, according to the research, with 52 per cent confirming their interest. However, financial concerns meant that this was the group least likely to do so - 56 per cent saw the lack of start-up funds as a barrier, while 22 per cent felt held back by high levels of personal debt.

“In recent years, technology has removed many of the barriers for getting a business off the ground,” says Simon Arbuthnot, General Manager of Extrasys. “A PC, standard software and a broadband connection are often all that are needed to manage business plans, accounts and other aspects of the company.”

The survey also highlighted that business reality TV programmes like Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice have played a part in fuelling entrepreneurial appetite.

Says Arbuthnot: “Television is often blamed for all kinds of society’s ills, so it’s good to see that some new shows are increasing people’s desires to positively contribute to the country’s economic well-being.”