11% of business owners turn to business websites for advice

11% of small businesses have revealed that they turn to business websites such as Startups.co.uk for advice, according to new research from Informi.

The survey of 501 business owners found that business websites were the third most popular source of information for small businesses, following accountants (22%) and search engines such as Google (19%). Local banks (4%) and brokers (2%) were the least.

Respondents were also asked what their main source of information was when setting up their business, with accountants again topping the list (22%), followed by family and friends (15%) and search engines (11%).

Business websites were the eighth most popular source of information for entrepreneurs when setting up (5%) and business magazines were the least (2%).

Darren Nicholls, product manager for Informi, commented: “It can be a daunting process not only when you first start a business but throughout the period that you are heading it up.

“Our research goes on to show that it took 13% of small businesses owners over two years before they felt fully confident in running their business, and indeed 4% tell us they are still not fully confident in doing so.

“It’s essential that you don’t try and go it alone, but get as much advice as you can from multiple sources – such as business experts, online tools and resources, and those around you.”