Lifting the barriers to growth in UK small businesses: 2004 biennial survey of FSB membership

This report presents the results of the third biennial survey of FSB membership. Responses were received from 18,635 FSB members drawn from all regions of the UK. This study builds on the two previous FSB biennial survey reports 'Barriers to Survival and Growth in UK Small Firms' published in 2000 and 'Lifting the Barriers to Growth in UK Small Businesses' published in 2002. Many of the issues raised in the two earlier reports are also featured in this study. These include issues relating to small business growth, employment, finance, business advisory services and legislation. Where possible, the results of the three surveys are compared in order to explore changes over time in small business attitudes and in their business environment. This survey also examines a range of current business issues and their effects on the small business sector. These include issues relating to bank switching, the National Minimum Wage uprate, new employment directives, environmental compliance and business related crime.