The majority of UK citizens would at least consider starting a business within the next two years, finds exclusive research commissioned by SmallBusiness.co.uk.

The majority of UK citizens would at least consider starting a business within the next two years, finds exclusive research commissioned by SmallBusiness.co.uk.

Some 52 per cent express an interest in starting up, according to a survey of 2,000 people by market research company Toluna.  

It seems that women are more entrepreneurial than men as females account for 57 per cent of those thinking of starting up.

Younger women in particular have designs on their own company, with 43 per cent of entrepreneurial females aged under 34, compared with just 23 per cent of men.

However, the study suggests that men become more enterprising with age, as 48 per cent of men thinking of starting up are aged 45 and over, compared with just 34 per cent of entrepreneurial women.  

The most popular reason to start up is to have a 'better life balance' (33 per cent) followed by 'Wanting to be my own boss' (25 per cent) and 'Having a great idea' (21 per cent).

By sector, 'retail' (21 per cent) is the most popular among respondents, followed by 'food and hospitality' (15 per cent) and 'technology and online' (9 per cent), but almost 20 per cent say they don't know what type of business they would start.

Richard Dodd, spokesperson for the British Retail Consortium, says that people who are struggling to find conventional employment will often look at starting their own businesses, and opening a shop has long been a popular choice.

He adds, 'Despite the fact that there can be significant costs involved, the growth of online retailing in particular makes it easier and cheaper to enter the market than it has been historically.

'Consumer demand is weak at the moment and that's affecting all retailers. Start-ups are more vulnerable because they don't have the resilience that the big multiples have. But equally it's the case that where someone is able to identify a niche, they can succeed.'

See also: Has your town got the enterprise spirit?