The majority of small business owners say they’re happy despite feeling unsupported by the government

Anyone will tell you that starting a business today is tough, especially with ongoing economic troubles and cost increases continually straining entrepreneurs across the country.

For many small business owners, it’s a constant balancing act of managing finances, finding new customers, and adapting to changes in the market – all while trying to maintain some kind of work-life balance.

However, despite 2026 shaping up to be another challenging year for many, new research from YouGov and VistaPrint suggests that a majority of UK business owners are still genuinely happy, with optimism and resilience holding firm across the sector – even in the face of continued pressure and uncertainty.

Resilience and optimism remain strong among entrepreneurs

With prices going up, ongoing uncertainty, and people having to work harder just to keep things moving, you might assume morale to be pretty low. But that’s not quite what the data shows.

A new YouGov survey commissioned by VistaPrint found that 80% of UK small business owners say they’re happy, despite more than half of them reporting that they don’t feel supported by the Government.

A lot of this happiness comes from the freedom of being your own boss. And for respondents of the study, this includes setting their own schedules (57%), doing work they actually care about (45%), and having more control over their earnings (30%).

What’s more, despite the ongoing economic difficulties, six in ten entrepreneurs are still optimistic about growth, with marketing and finding new customers cited as the top focus area for 43% of respondents.

Sabine Leveiller, VP of Marketing at VistaPrint Europe, comments: “Small business owners are under real pressure, but this research shows the picture is more balanced than it can sometimes appear. Many are finding genuine fulfilment in building something of their own, even as they navigate uncertainty.”

Financial and operational challenges continue to weigh on business owners

Despite the high levels of optimism among business owners, it’s impossible to ignore the difficulties that continue to impact day-to-day life for many entrepreneurs across the UK.

Specifically, unpredictable income remains a notable concern among entrepreneurs, with 48% of business owners from VistaPrint’s study citing this as a top concern. This was followed by a difficult work-life balance for 42% of respondents.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that economic uncertainty continues to affect turnover for 31% of businesses. For those with 10 or more employees, the cost of labour was cited as the main concern for 36% of firms, likely due to the rise in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) in April.

Sole traders and solopreneurs are also feeling the pinch with the demand of “always on” culture, which is pushing 48% to consider quitting their business altogether due to the stress, including working beyond standard hours, isolation, and neglecting their own wellbeing.

Many Brits still plan to take the leap into entrepreneurship

More people in the UK are starting to rethink what work looks like for them, with a growing sense that traditional employment isn’t quite offering the same appeal as it once did.

Indeed, entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the UK, with one in ten Brits reporting that they plan to start a business at the beginning of the year.

Freedom, money, and passion are consistently cited as the main reasons people want to start their own venture, with being their own boss standing out as the top motivator for 47% of aspiring business owners, according to one poll conducted in 2025. 

At the same time, growing dissatisfaction and lack of employee engagement in traditional work settings could also play a role, with 38% of workers saying the lack of flexible hours and remote working options is what’s pushing them to consider leaving their jobs.

Additionally, side hustles continue to be a popular option for many, with 46% of UK adults having one as an additional source of income, particularly among the Gen Z (66%) and Millennial (62%) generations.

Many more people would be leaping into the world of entrepreneurship if funds weren’t an obstacle. In a poll of 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs recently conducted by the Bristol Post, six in ten said that lack of funding is stopping them from pursuing their vision, particularly with struggles around tax and accounting. 

Taken together, the findings paint a mixed but largely optimistic picture of UK entrepreneurship. While financial pressure, government changes, and workload challenges persist, the appeal of starting a business and entrepreneurial spirit is far from fading.