Orange also found 82% of business owners surveyed believe they are able to work as productively in a flexible workspace or at home compared to a traditional office. It seems this improved productivity - a result of flexible working, subsequently means that business owners can finish their work earlier with 55% of respondents working six hours or less a day.
In fact, more than a third of respondents said they focus solely on work so they can finish earlier than they would working in an office and in order to do this the majority (46%) said they relied on a mobile or Smartphone to work flexibly. This contrasted with the 26% who continue to work in an office and said their average day lasted at least eight to nine hours.
This increasing workplace freedom has paved the way for new imaginative offices – with respondents citing the beach, a football ground, and even a barn at a diary farm as their alternative office.
Martin Lyne, SME marketing director, Everything Everywhere said: "When running a business, many dream of shorter more flexible working days with the hope of leading a better quality of life. Whilst there is no denying that setting up a company can involve a lot of blood, sweat, tears and time; what this research highlights is that small and medium business owners are able to work when it suits them and make the most of their free time.
"The Orange business customers that were surveyed felt that they were able to get a lot more done in the day, not only in terms of finishing their day earlier (or starting later), but by also having the option to mix work and daily chores throughout the day through working more flexibly."
