British small businesses want the government to cut regulation, reduce business taxes, and offer more support and advice.

Some 60 per cent of new businesses are now started at home. Home-based businesses employ 28 per cent of the the total workforce and have combined turnover of £364bn, according to research from BT.

In total, small businesses make up 47 per cent of total UK employment (10.55 million jobs) and turn over £972.2bn a year.

Start-up businesses typically turn to the internet for advice followed by private organisations like lawyers and accountants, except in the south-west where they are more likely to talk to family and friends.

Enterprise Nation, the home business website which wrote the report, is calling for a 10 point plan to improve life for SMEs.

These include: better research into home business and the impact of government policy on them, more support and possibly financial incentives for such businesses, and tax changes and better local infrastructure for home-based businesses.

The report also notes the environmental benefits of working from home.

The report was released to mark the start of Small Business Week. Researchers spoke to 1,650 small businesses across the UK.

BT's research is available to download, following a brief registration process, here or Enterprise Nation is here. ®

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