With the change in working patterns we have witnessed so too has the use of freelancers grown 120% this year, reflecting how businesses are adapting to new technologies, budgets and work practices. So, while many are struggling to find work in the permanent job market, for others the route of a freelance may be opening many doors. Not only are many finding work as a freelance worker, but it's also a great way to test the water before setting up in business. For many it offers an opportunity to start building up clients and an understanding of how to manage your own time and finances before setting up as, say, a Limited Company.

Of course, it depends on your area of expertise, but particularly in demand are those with software development skills, along with graphic designers, content writers and Internet marketing. There has also been a rise in demand for outsourced admin such as transcription and data entry.

Well, you're not alone as recent research by Business Link has found that although a quarter of employees would like to start a business a third are too scared to do so. However, what's interesting is that if those budding entrepreneurs did take the leap into business ownership and made a profit of just £1000 the UK economy would receive a massive £3.25bn boost.

With the varied support available to businesses including the £78.9m to be spent during 2011-12 on a number of programmes and initiatives designed to support UK businesses it would be interesting to understand what is holding so many people back. From our discussions with visitors to the recent Business Startup Show many people were concerned about finance, feeling overwhelmed by the tasks involved in setting up a business, not understanding what jobs they needed to undertake, not to mention the risk involved in possibly leaving employment to start the business.

All these concerns are valid and completely understandable. The good news is that they can, for the most part, be addressed.

Do you feel that all 'small' businesses get lumped into the category of SME and the terms small business and SME are thrown around by the media and government without a clear indication of their actual meaning. In fact, while the government talks about helping the UK's SMEs, it is in fact micro-enterprises (under 10 employees) that make up 95% of the UK's enterprises and a third of all UK employment. As almost all start ups are micro businesses any government assistance to new businesses clearly needs to be directed to these micro enterprises.

With SMEs accounting for 99.9% of enterprises it becomes clear that this term is fairly useless to reflect a certain type of enterprise, and when the government talks about helping SMEs it is by no means clear whether micro enterprises will benefit and in a great many cases they probably do not. Because of the power and influence of large corporations compared to micro businesses it's no surprise that achieving equality in regulations is so difficult.

It's an all too familiar story - business owners taking on too many roles in their company and, inevitably, not able to give their full focus to the business. A survey by Bibby Financial Services found that, for example, 65% help with the cleaning and a slightly lower number do the stationary order. Other common tasks include chasing payment, dealing with suppliers and securing finance. This is all well and good, but when it's being done in addition to their role it can become a burden and detrimental to the business.

Edward Rimmer, UK chief executive for Bibby Financial Services says, "People go into business because they have a passion for something and a good idea, but it is easy to underestimate how many different roles need to be taken on."