Owners can’t do without their partners

JUST over half of small trade business owners and managers rely on spouses and partners to help run their company, according to new research.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Aug 2012, 11:12 BST

The research by Direct Line for Business showed that 46 per cent of small trade business owners and key decision makers rely on their partners to carry out general business administration while one in five employ their partner as a receptionist.

Fourteen per cent trust their partners to look after legal and accounting services, while a further eight per cent of small trade business owners and key decision makers look to their partners to carry out sales, marketing and new business generation responsibilities.

Partners work on average two days a week, with nearly a third not being paid. The research, which surveyed 200 people, looked at businesses employing less than five people with an average annual turnover of around £124,000.