entrepreneur online

A new Yahoo!/Harris survey shows that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the U.S. According to the survey, 70 percent of Americans said they have thought about owning their own business, a significant increase compared to 2006 when 66 percent answered “yes” to the question, “Have you ever thought about owning your own business?”  

It's not About the Money                                                                               

Money may make the world go around, but it's not the main reason Americans want to become entrepreneurs, according to the survey: 

What Is The Main Reason You Would Want To Start Your Own Business?
For a passionate hobby/doing work I love         35%             
To be my own boss                                       20%           
To make more money                                    16%            
To create something people need                    11%       
For the challenge                                           11%             
To get rich/nearly rich                                       3%             
Other                                                              4%           

But Priorities Do Change Over Time 
 Another key finding from the survey was the shifting priorities among age groups. The results below show how the number one reason for starting a business changes among survey respondents in different age brackets: 

Top Reason to Start a Business, by Age Group
18-34   For a hobby/do work I love
35-44   To be my own boss

45-54   To make more money

55+      To create something people need  

At Any Age, Americans Have Entrepreneurial Spirit

A majority of Americans (54 percent), according to the survey results, responded "never too old" when asked, “At what age do you think it would be too late to start your own business?” 

This third annual Small Business Week survey was commissioned by Yahoo! Small Business and conducted by Harris Interactive^®.