Entrepreneur Research

Research - Becoming an Entrepreneur

Have you ever started a business .... considered it ...or taken practical steps towards doing so?

In Sweden - every year - 70 000 new businesses are started.
Many more would-be entrepreneurs have intentions that have yet to be lifted beyond idea, and every year - many abandon their intent of business ownership.

If this is you:
*Have started running a small business within the last 2 years.
*Have run a small business but have decided to stop or put it on hold
*Have had a desire to start a business but are still trying to decide if it is for you.

...then we would like your input. Our intention is to make entrepreneurship easier for you, so we would like to learn about what it is like - the positives and the challenges. Below are some questions. We hope that you are willing to spend 10 minutes to provide your input.

If you have interest & willingness to participate in a telephone interview, let us know. We love talking to the people that want to bring their ideas into the world and also those seeking ways to monetize their talents and passions.

Additionally, we appreciate if you pass this survey along (send link) to anyone that you feel may have relevant experiences and input.

Thanks for your time - and we wish you well in your ventures!!

Regards,
Stefanie Eriksson & Magnus Härlin
stefanie.eriksson@speedledger.se
076-306 8435

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* 1. Which best describes your situation?

Have started running a small business within the last 2 years

Have run a small business but have decided to stop or put it on-hold

Have had a desire to start a business

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How much does each factor below describe your motivation behind wanting to start the business?

	Very much	Somewhat	Very little	Not at all
Challenge - the challenge attracts me. I would like to test out if I can do this.	Challenge - the challenge attracts me. I would like to test out if I can do this. Very much	Challenge - the challenge attracts me. I would like to test out if I can do this. Somewhat	Challenge - the challenge attracts me. I would like to test out if I can do this. Very little	Challenge - the challenge attracts me. I would like to test out if I can do this. Not at all
Learning - I value the learning experiences of running a business.	Learning - I value the learning experiences of running a business. Very much	Learning - I value the learning experiences of running a business. Somewhat	Learning - I value the learning experiences of running a business. Very little	Learning - I value the learning experiences of running a business. Not at all
Autonomy - I want to have my own company. Being head of the show is more important to me than any particular idea.	Autonomy - I want to have my own company. Being head of the show is more important to me than any particular idea. Very much	Autonomy - I want to have my own company. Being head of the show is more important to me than any particular idea. Somewhat	Autonomy - I want to have my own company. Being head of the show is more important to me than any particular idea. Very little	Autonomy - I want to have my own company. Being head of the show is more important to me than any particular idea. Not at all
Idea - I am driven by a specific idea (examples of people driven by specific ideas: Steve Jobs, Melinda Gates, Elon Musk)	Idea - I am driven by a specific idea (examples of people driven by specific ideas: Steve Jobs, Melinda Gates, Elon Musk) Very much	Idea - I am driven by a specific idea (examples of people driven by specific ideas: Steve Jobs, Melinda Gates, Elon Musk) Somewhat	Idea - I am driven by a specific idea (examples of people driven by specific ideas: Steve Jobs, Melinda Gates, Elon Musk) Very little	Idea - I am driven by a specific idea (examples of people driven by specific ideas: Steve Jobs, Melinda Gates, Elon Musk) Not at all
Passion - I view this as an easy way to get paid for something I really like to do.	Passion - I view this as an easy way to get paid for something I really like to do. Very much	Passion - I view this as an easy way to get paid for something I really like to do. Somewhat	Passion - I view this as an easy way to get paid for something I really like to do. Very little	Passion - I view this as an easy way to get paid for something I really like to do. Not at all
My skills are not fully valued by employer.	My skills are not fully valued by employer. Very much	My skills are not fully valued by employer. Somewhat	My skills are not fully valued by employer. Very little	My skills are not fully valued by employer. Not at all
Money - I view running my own business as an opportunity to earn more money.	Money - I view running my own business as an opportunity to earn more money. Very much	Money - I view running my own business as an opportunity to earn more money. Somewhat	Money - I view running my own business as an opportunity to earn more money. Very little	Money - I view running my own business as an opportunity to earn more money. Not at all
Necessity - difficult (or not possible) to find employed work.	Necessity - difficult (or not possible) to find employed work. Very much	Necessity - difficult (or not possible) to find employed work. Somewhat	Necessity - difficult (or not possible) to find employed work. Very little	Necessity - difficult (or not possible) to find employed work. Not at all

Other (please specify)

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* 3. How would you characterize the venture/business that you have started (or intend to start)?

Consulting Services

Service Business

Web/Online Business/E-commerce

Retail Store (physical location)

Product

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Your Target Customer Segment(s)?

Businesses

Consumers

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Your Goals - with the business

Unicorn - I am aiming to create Sweden's next unicorn!

Run in parallel with other job (where I am employed)

Replace job/employment (eventually)

Grow my business beyond myself (eventually have employees)

Social Change - I am aiming to affect positive social change. For example working to: end poverty, fight inequality, or stop climate change (I am on a mission!)

Not pursuing my idea (or undecided if I will pursue it)

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Where are you right now? (what stage)

My business is my sole/primary income

Working at it actively. 5+ hours per week (and earning income)

Working at it actively. 5+ hours per week (no/insignificant earnings)

Putting in some time/effort, every now-and-then

I have not given up, but I am not working actively with it

I will most likely not pursue this (or undecided)

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What steps have you taken? (check all that apply)

Fantasizing / Having an idea / Thinking about it

Listened to relevant/inspirational podcasts

Informal Research on Compliance/Skatteverket/etc.

Market research - scanned the market and learned about target customer segments

Made financial calculations / budgeting

Courses - Attended Entrepreneurial Courses/seminars (example: Starta Eget course)

Product - Started to develop product

Skill Training - Trained in needed skills (if service business idea)

Customers - worked to attract customers (examples: building website, actively promoting, selling)

Practical - done administrative things to startup (examples: register at Bolagsverket/Skatteverket)

Business software/services - evaluated or considered how to handle accounting, invoicing, etc.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. What has been most difficult?

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* 9. How fun do you consider...

	Very fun	Somewhat	Little	Not at all
Budgeting, financial planning	Budgeting, financial planning Very fun	Budgeting, financial planning Somewhat	Budgeting, financial planning Little	Budgeting, financial planning Not at all
Market Research (understanding customer segment)	Market Research (understanding customer segment) Very fun	Market Research (understanding customer segment) Somewhat	Market Research (understanding customer segment) Little	Market Research (understanding customer segment) Not at all
Analysing industry trends	Analysing industry trends Very fun	Analysing industry trends Somewhat	Analysing industry trends Little	Analysing industry trends Not at all
Finding and Selling to Customers	Finding and Selling to Customers Very fun	Finding and Selling to Customers Somewhat	Finding and Selling to Customers Little	Finding and Selling to Customers Not at all
Developing a brand and/or website	Developing a brand and/or website Very fun	Developing a brand and/or website Somewhat	Developing a brand and/or website Little	Developing a brand and/or website Not at all
Product Development	Product Development Very fun	Product Development Somewhat	Product Development Little	Product Development Not at all
Bookkeeping / understanding tax regulations	Bookkeeping / understanding tax regulations Very fun	Bookkeeping / understanding tax regulations Somewhat	Bookkeeping / understanding tax regulations Little	Bookkeeping / understanding tax regulations Not at all

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Who have you been in contact with?

Skatteverket

Friends, family and acquaintances with similar experiences

Expanded my network to include industry and/or entrepreneurial contacts

Potential Investors

Potential Partners

Incubator / Accelerator

Bank

Accounting Services Professionals

Other Business Service Professionals

Other (please specify)

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* 11. How much do you feel that each aspect below is holding you back from the next step?

	Very much	Somewhat	Little	Not at all
Cannot get funding	Cannot get funding Very much	Cannot get funding Somewhat	Cannot get funding Little	Cannot get funding Not at all
Selling, promoting, reaching customers was/is challenging	Selling, promoting, reaching customers was/is challenging Very much	Selling, promoting, reaching customers was/is challenging Somewhat	Selling, promoting, reaching customers was/is challenging Little	Selling, promoting, reaching customers was/is challenging Not at all
Uncertainty and/or Fear of change	Uncertainty and/or Fear of change Very much	Uncertainty and/or Fear of change Somewhat	Uncertainty and/or Fear of change Little	Uncertainty and/or Fear of change Not at all
Lacking knowledge about what is needed to start a company	Lacking knowledge about what is needed to start a company Very much	Lacking knowledge about what is needed to start a company Somewhat	Lacking knowledge about what is needed to start a company Little	Lacking knowledge about what is needed to start a company Not at all
Lacking comfort/skills with technology (web shop, payments, etc.)	Lacking comfort/skills with technology (web shop, payments, etc.) Very much	Lacking comfort/skills with technology (web shop, payments, etc.) Somewhat	Lacking comfort/skills with technology (web shop, payments, etc.) Little	Lacking comfort/skills with technology (web shop, payments, etc.) Not at all
Too much competition	Too much competition Very much	Too much competition Somewhat	Too much competition Little	Too much competition Not at all
Running a company was less fun than expected (do not feel like it)	Running a company was less fun than expected (do not feel like it) Very much	Running a company was less fun than expected (do not feel like it) Somewhat	Running a company was less fun than expected (do not feel like it) Little	Running a company was less fun than expected (do not feel like it) Not at all
Work/life balance was affected more than expected and/or reprioritization of private life	Work/life balance was affected more than expected and/or reprioritization of private life Very much	Work/life balance was affected more than expected and/or reprioritization of private life Somewhat	Work/life balance was affected more than expected and/or reprioritization of private life Little	Work/life balance was affected more than expected and/or reprioritization of private life Not at all
Unfamiliar with regulations	Unfamiliar with regulations Very much	Unfamiliar with regulations Somewhat	Unfamiliar with regulations Little	Unfamiliar with regulations Not at all
Too much administration	Too much administration Very much	Too much administration Somewhat	Too much administration Little	Too much administration Not at all
Lack of time available	Lack of time available Very much	Lack of time available Somewhat	Lack of time available Little	Lack of time available Not at all
Lack of understanding of digital currencies	Lack of understanding of digital currencies Very much	Lack of understanding of digital currencies Somewhat	Lack of understanding of digital currencies Little	Lack of understanding of digital currencies Not at all

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Your Knowledge

	High	Some	Very Little	None
Accounting / Finances	Accounting / Finances High	Accounting / Finances Some	Accounting / Finances Very Little	Accounting / Finances None
Tax Rules	Tax Rules High	Tax Rules Some	Tax Rules Very Little	Tax Rules None
Marketing	Marketing High	Marketing Some	Marketing Very Little	Marketing None
Knowledge of your Industry	Knowledge of your Industry High	Knowledge of your Industry Some	Knowledge of your Industry Very Little	Knowledge of your Industry None

Other (please specify)

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* 13. How much time do you estimate that you have invested (so far) into your business? (optional)

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* 14. How much money would you estimate that you have invested (so far) into your business? (optional)

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* 15. Your (intended) Company Type

Enskild Fimra

Aktiebolag

Handelsbolag

Förening

Have not thought about it

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Who is working with you?

Working alone (and for now, this suits me fine!)

Working alone, but would like a co-founder

Have a co-founder

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Brief description of your business area/industry

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* 18. Your Age (optional)

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* 19. Your Gender Identity

Female

Male

Prefer not to say

Other (please specify)

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* 20. My single largest fear related to further developing my business idea is...

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* 21. If I could make one challenge of starting a business magically be solved, it would be...

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* 22. Email address (optional)

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* 23. It would be OK to be contacted related to this research (example: further surveys).

Yes

No - Please do not contact/email me