
Business owners reveal their biggest hurdles in setting up shop in the US
From working too many hours to being let down by a vendor and underestimating costs, a new survey reveals the biggest hurdles business owners faced when first starting out.
A survey of 1,000 small business owners (SBOs) and freelancers pinpointed the things they wish they'd known from the start.
Advertisement
Results showed financial missteps as one of the most common challenges SBOs faced – underestimating just how much things would cost and ensuring proper cash flow impacted over a third of SBOs (36%) early on.
Wishing they'd had more support or been able to do more marketing was the second-most mentioned area (29%), while being able to maintain a good work-life balance was something over one in four (27%) business owners and freelancers said they found difficult to manage.
4 A survey of 1,000 small business owners (SBOs) and freelancers pinpointed the things they wish they'd known from the start.
While the struggle to attain work-life balance affected many new entrepreneurs, results showed a supportive community can really make the difference – eight in 10 SBOs attribute much of their success to their network of partners and vendors.
Advertisement
The survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of HP for its Instant Ink service found that while many SBOs faced early adversity, they built confidence in their leadership ability – the average SBO surveyed said it took just over two years to feel like a fully confident business owner.
That experience is hard-earned – the average SBO estimates they put in just over 50 hours a week to launch their business or establish themself as a freelancer in their field.
4 Results showed financial missteps as one of the most common challenges SBOs faced.
Pormezz – stock.adobe.com
A quarter (27%) of owners said 60-hour weeks or longer were the norm, while one in six (16%) were clocking more than 70 hours.
Advertisement
'Having a trusted tech partner is essential for small business owners,' said Diana Sroka, SVP of consumer services product for HP. 'With limited time and budget, it's important to find solutions that are smart, flexible and adaptable to the unique needs of each business.'
Those long weeks show a small business owner must often wear many hats. In fact, the average owner estimates they did the equivalent of three full-time roles, with customer service, operations and sales being the most common areas SBOs said they had to manage themselves.
That places even more emphasis on the need for strong partnerships and a reliable network, yet many SBOs report being let down. Two in five (38%) said a vendor or partner had failed them in some way that significantly impacted their business.
4 The average SBO estimates they put in just over 50 hours a week to launch their business or establish themself as a freelancer in their field.
Advertisement
It's no surprise then that 79% claimed having a trusted network of partners and vendors is important to their success – they even ranked having good connections in business as more important than having sufficient cash flow when evaluating what contributed to performance (76% vs. 64%).
Interestingly, despite the hardships, 41% said they wouldn't change anything at all in their entrepreneurial journey because they felt those experiences helped them grow more resilient and were an integral part of their learning.
And to go it alone, you need the vision – when asked what their most indispensable resource was as an entrepreneur, SBOs overwhelmingly cited 'my own creativity.'
'In the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship, the importance of strong partnerships – especially with a reliable tech partner – cannot be overstated,' added Sroka. 'Too many small business owners face setbacks due to broken trust, missed expectations and technology failures. Building a strong tech partnership is crucial to keeping business moving forward in a constantly evolving landscape.'
4 It's no surprise that 79% claimed having a trusted network of partners and vendors is important to their success.
BIGGEST HURDLES FACED BY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Underestimating costs (36%)
Not doing enough marketing (29%)
Ignoring work-life balance (27%)
Pricing products or services incorrectly (25%)
Not doing enough research on the market (15%)
Choosing the wrong vendors or partners (14%)
Not investing enough in technology (10%)
Not delegating (10%)
Neglecting customer experience (7%)
Not outsourcing (7%)
Skimping on legal and administrative essentials (6%)
Advertisement
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 small business owners (SBOs) and freelancers (split 50/50); the survey was commissioned by HP and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 17 – March 26, 2025.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
HP's New AI-Powered 3D Conferencing With Google Beam: Here's What Stands Out
HP has partnered with Google for a new virtual conferencing solution that doesn't need VR headsets or other wearables, called HP Dimension with Google Beam. Instead of glasses, it's a giant 3D-enabled display that sits on a conference desk in front of you and mimics the feeling of interacting with someone just a few feet away. It also costs $25,000. Previously called Project Starline, HP's Dimension with Google Beam promises to be "AI-powered," which refers to algorithms in charge of adjusting the size, depth, color and even eye contact of the participants. The technology works via six cameras placed around a curved "light field" display. We previously explored these Google Beam AI models, which Google has likened to a "magic window." Currently, the advanced 3D technology only works with Zoom Rooms and Google Meet. HP says its testing has shown that HP Dimension with Google Beam has led to a 28% increase in memory recall and at least a 14% increase in focus in participants. Google Beam's AI recreation models. James Martin/Google But the virtual interaction is only part of what the conferencing setup can do. It can also switch to a mode for 2D traditional group meetings, or support viewing with standard third-party meeting apps like Teams and Webex. Companies interested in getting one of these powerful displays will be able to order one later in 2025, as long as they're willing to pay that $25,000 price. That's quite steep for conferencing technology primarily designed for two people, but maybe some businesses really want that lifelike eye contact with their business partners. HP did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kansas launches new resources for small businesses, entrepreneurs
Taylor Overton leads the new Kansas Department of Commerce Small Business Office. She spoke Tuesday at the Tee Box in Topeka. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Tools for small business owners are now available through the Kansas Small Business Office, leaders with the Kansas Department of Commerce announced Tuesday while highlighting the need to encourage entrepreneurship and business development in the state. Connect KS, a resource website that will answer questions of small business owners and help them find resources in their part of the state, is part of the SBO, said Taylor Overton, who heads up the new office. The resources were announced at an event at the Tee Box in downtown Topeka that drew entrepreneurs from across the state to share the importance of finding programs and information to help them succeed. In addition, many spoke about being part of a Kansas delegation recently at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indiana. 'One of the reasons why this is so important is that new businesses under five years old create the most net new jobs in our economy,' said Jason Grill, with Right to Start, a nonprofit organization that advocates for small businesses. 'They also grow GDP, and they increase lifetime incomes. They increase community wealth, very much so, in lifetime incomes, they diversify our goods and services in our communities, and they fight inequality and poverty.' Grill told about 50 people gathered that for every 1% increase in entrepreneurship in a community, there is a 2% decrease in poverty. Joshua Jefferson, deputy secretary of business development at the commerce department, said the coordination of resources throughout the state is key to the new initiatives. 'We're here to commit to the work of a new era in small business support here in Kansas,' he said. 'The COVID 19 pandemic exposed that the Kansas Department of Commerce was not doing enough for small businesses in the state of Kansas. In the wake of a once-in-a-century economic crisis, we examined the way that the agency was working, and in the process, we discovered that we really weren't supporting small business as much as we could, or that we should.' Jefferson said the creation of the SBO, along with resources like Connect KS, was the culmination of those efforts to change the state's support network. 'We can do more, and we will do more,' he said. He outlined resources included in the SBO and stressed that part of the task has been making them easier to navigate and accessible to all Kansans. 'By creating a coordinated statewide hub for entrepreneurs at every stage, we're coordinating key resources and creating centralized points of contact for entrepreneurs who are navigating the tough work of business development certifications, permitting access to capital, mentorships and much, much more,' he said. Much of the work of the SBO is connecting people with opportunity, and Overton said she was excited to take a Kansas delegation to the global congress to network with people from around the world. Wichita business owner Kristin Kienzle, who attended the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indiana, said she is learning about creating a successful franchising model that can be replicated nationwide as she explores opportunities to expand into Oklahoma. Kienzle, who owns Utopia Modern Salon Suites, grew her unique approach to offering salon services from one site to three in Wichita, with more on the way. 'I learned some tactical things. I learned some inspirational things and then I also just kind of learned some things about myself,' she said. Being with other entrepreneurs helped her realize how little people understand about what it takes to start a business and manage all the risks. 'As an entrepreneur, we just do what we do,' she said. 'So being in the room on a grand stage with all these people who have done great things, everyone from Mark Cuban down to the guy who started this business six weeks ago, and everything in between was just so it just made me realize, wow, these people, and this is a really unique crowd.' Trademark attorney Julie Grabbe, of Hays, said meeting people from other countries was valuable. 'I'm in west Kansas, so we're in a different situation than a lot of the more metropolitan cities,' she said. 'But commerce is very important to us. We want to be able to keep our young talent. We want to keep growing our cities. We want it to be a vibrant place to live. I think one of the ways to do that is really to have the support of the state to go out and do these kinds of things and get these ideas.'


Gizmodo
5 hours ago
- Gizmodo
HP 15.6″ Touch Screen Laptop Is Now Going for Peanuts, Thanks to Nearly 50% Off at Best Buy
If your current laptop is crawling when you're browsing online, struggling with Zoom calls, or sounding like it's prepping for takeoff every time you open a new tab, it might be time for an upgrade. But we understand how hard it can be to find a new computer without having to open your wallet as deep and wide as it goes. That's why we're here to help. We found a great deal on a reliable brand that you'll actually like using, and all you need to do is lock it in now so you don't miss out on the discount. See at Best Buy Ready to bring home a new computer? Head over to Best Buy to get the 15.6-inch HP Touchscreen Laptop for just $400, down from its usual price of $650. That's $250 off and a discount of 42%. Your new go-to laptop This is a laptop that's great for anyone to use. Whether you're working from home, taking online classes, or just need something reliable for checking email, watching videos, or managing spreadsheets, this laptop has the right mix of performance and features to get it done. And it looks good doing it, has a sleek silver finish and minimalist design that means it'll probably match just about any outfit (if you care about that), room, or type of decor. We know, having an aesthetic desk area might matter a lot to you, and that's totally fine. Under the hood, you'll find an AMD Ryzen 5 processor that pairs nicely with 16GB of RAM. That's more than enough memory for multitasking. Think having a dozen browser tabs open, streaming music, and bouncing between Word and Excel without skipping a beat. It's also got a 256GB SSD, so your files will load fast and your startup times will be almost instant. You'll likely enjoy using the touchscreen. It's not something everyone thinks they need until they've used it, and then it's hard to go back. Whether you're zooming in on a recipe, scrolling through notes, or tapping through a slideshow, the added touch capability makes things feel faster. It's also a little more fun somehow. HP's known for delivering solid battery life in this line, and this machine is no exception. It should comfortably get you through most of a workday on a single charge. So that means you don't have to keep it plugged in all day if you don't want to. Should you get this laptop for $400? That's a resounding yes. You're going to want to grab this on sale (-42%) while you can. You've probably needed a new laptop for awhile, and it's finally time. See at Best Buy