The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the US, with 48% of Americans aspiring to own their own businesses and seven out of ten current small business owners claiming they would do it all over again, based on a research conducted by UPS. Still, the landscape has only become more difficult over the years, with 59% of business owners stating that running a business is more difficult today than it was five years ago. So why is there such as disconnect here and how can we bridge the gap for small business owners?

Lifting the (Entrepreneurial) Spirit

All of the classic reasons to blaze your own trail in business still apply: the autonomy and control from being your own boss, the flexibility in your schedule, the need for a change etc. However, a whole new set of catalysts have arisen, prompting more individuals to consider launching their own businesses.

• The Local Movement:

  With the advent of Small Business Saturday, consumers have a renewed interest in shopping at local businesses. This surge of support for local businesses has entrepreneurs hopeful that they too can flourish in the midst of large national brands.

• Increased Comfort with Uncertainty:

  The turbulent economy we’ve experienced over the better part of the last decade, people have come to realize that climbing the ranks a large company no longer offers the job security that it had in the past. This essentially evened the playing field, giving entrepreneurs the courage that they needed to leave their jobs and launch their own businesses, as there was no guarantee that their job would still be there in a year anyway.

• Emerging Technologies:

  The rise of cloud computing, social media, mobile and other technological platforms have made running and promoting a small business seem easier than ever before.

A Rude Awakening

As it turns out, “seem” is the operative word in the sentence above. Of those entrepreneurs who have launched their businesses, 59% stated that running a business is harder today than it was five years ago, due to the economy, increased competition, and, you guessed it, new technology. Clearly there is a disconnect between prospective entrepreneur’s expectations and the reality of running a small business in today’s market.

Bridging the Gap

However, all hope is not lost! The gap between entrepreneurs’ expectations and their abilities to operate a business in our digital world can be bridged quite easily by getting some “technology therapy”. We can help you with everything from correctly identifying your target market and flushing out your marketing strategy, to creating a custom website, helping you navigate the mobile landscape and establishing a presence on social media.

If you’re finding that the technology involved in running a business is not quite as easy as you hoped, give us a call. We’ll help you get back on the right track so you can focus on your passion and making your business dream come true!