‘Being your own boss is best for wellbeing’

Ditching the boss is the top reason most people give for wanting to become self-employed, according to a survey by AXA Business Insurance. Seventy-eight per cent of people who aim to go freelance in the next year named “being their own boss” the top motivation: by comparison, just 46% seek more money and 66% a better work-life balance.

AXA estimates almost seven million people are poised to become selfemployed in the UK.

But will quitting the hierarchy make you happier? In a separate survey by AXA, 82% of self-employed people said life was indeed “much improved” after going it alone. Just 7% said they found life harder as their own boss.

Mental wellbeing was a particular area of improvement: six out of ten employees suffer from work-related stress, compared to four in ten people working for themselves.

People in office-based occupations noted the biggest reduction in stress after quitting their workplace.

The gap was narrower for more handson trades: one in five builders said the client is a tougher taskmaster than the boss.

Overall, just 16% of self-employed people say their clients are more “difficult” to deal with than their old bosses.

They do prove more intrusive though, two-thirds of freelancers said their clients show no respect for “working hours”, expecting emails and calls answered in the evenings, during holidays and at weekends.

Meanwhile, the happiest age to become self-employed is in the late 30s and early 40s. An overwhelming 93% of people in this age group say their life has improved as a result.

But, the romance does lessen as the business itself ages: people in business longer than five years are twice as likely to miss their old workplaces as recent startups.

While many dream of starting a business, summoning up sufficient selfbelief is the biggest barrier.

When people were asked what is stopping them from starting up, half put it down to lack of self-confidence rather than financial or practical considerations.

Some indicated they are locked in a vicious cycle: 36% said their current employment has damaged their selfconfidence, making it harder to leave and start their business. Others – 30% – traced their lower self-esteem back to their school days (either “bullies”, “teachers” or “classmates”) and 22% quoted poor mental health.

Gareth Howell, managing director of AXA Insurance, said: “Some people are attracted to self-employment as a route out of a damaging workplace situation. Whatever your motivation, timing is crucial to success or failure.

“It’s a fine art recognising when you’re ready: mentally strong enough, financially able and enthused enough. We know people often suffer fears of inadequacy, so you do need to be battle ready.

“Most people aren’t talking about escape, more about they’ve outgrown their workplace, bosses included.”

It is estimated almost seven million people are poised to become selfemployed in the UK.