Why SME Owners and Solo Entrepreneurs Are Returning to Corporate Life

Over the past few months, we’ve noticed a clear trend across social media: experienced SME owners and solo entrepreneurs choosing to return to corporate roles.

That caught our attention, so we spoke with 40 people who had made this decision to understand why. While this isn’t a statistically large sample, the insights were consistent, striking, and highly relevant for anyone considering - or already navigating - self-employment.

Here’s what they told us

·         The time commitment was massively underestimated
Running a business isn’t just the work you deliver—it’s everything else that comes with it.

·         Cash flow shocks were common
Moving from a guaranteed salary to delayed and fluctuating income caught many off guard.

·         Business plans were overly optimistic
Client numbers, speed of sales, timing of cash receipts, and expected income were frequently misjudged.

·         The required skillset was far broader than expected
Marketing, CRM, sales negotiation, finance, compliance, reporting… the list was longer and deeper than anticipated.

·         Outsourcing wasn’t the silver bullet
It cost more, took longer to manage, and involved more suppliers than originally planned.

·         Networking lacked focus
Most people networked extensively—but without clarity on where their ideal clients were actually looking. The result was time-intensive, low-return “scattergun” networking.

·         Confidence using social media was low
Few felt able to use it consistently and strategically to generate meaningful business opportunities.

·         Corporate contacts didn’t convert into clients
Despite expectations, very little work materialised from former employers or colleagues.

·         “Build it and they will come” didn’t work
Most had websites—many self-built—but they failed to clearly communicate value or generate enquiries.

·         Balancing multiple client assignments proved challenging
Delivering for several clients at once created stress and, in some cases, sub-optimal outcomes.

These aren’t failures - they’re hard-earned lessons. And they’re lessons that can save time, money, and unnecessary pressure when addressed early.

If you are:
Thinking about becoming self-employed
Recently started your own business
Feeling overwhelmed running one

…it’s worth talking these challenges through with experienced business consultants who’ve seen them before.

Let’s have an introductory chat