Getting the job is done is only half the battle. The Time survey shows all too well that administration is a bug bear of every SME. It revealed that administrative jobs can account for two whole months a year, taking key people away from their core roles.
Filing/paperwork, complying with statutory tax/financial requirements and chasing money all accounted for an average 16% of the working week, according to those questioned.
And these are the tasks which are most likely to keep SME owner/managers at their desks through evenings and weekends.
One of those questioned was Alex Bethell of b2 Foods Ltd who says: "Time in the office chasing and filing is time I am not out of the office selling - a filing fairy would be an idea!
"I can be losing up to £1,000 a day in lost revenue when I'm spending my time on administration. That's time I haven't got at the moment,leaving me to do the administrative work in my evenings and weekends.
"Any bit of help on the administration side is an enormous weight off my shoulders. Frankly, anybody doing anything outside of what I am good at - yoghurt making - is great news."