9 in 10 Surveyed Choose Entrepreneurship, Despite the Sacrifices (Infographic)A new study explains why business owners think the extra time and energy is worth it.

ByTanya Benedicto Klich

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

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Realizing the American dream through entrepreneurship isn't easy, as a recentstudy shows.

Online lenderOnDecksurveyed more than 800 small business owners across the country and those responses provide a snapshot of what entrepreneurs face right now.

“大多数的受访者觉得平均每son didn't understand how hard it was to drive a business forward," said Andrea Gellert, chief marketing officer at OnDeck. "We should all recognize the dedication business owners have to growing our local Main Streets, and in turn, our economy."

OnDeck found that more than half surveyed work more than 50 hours per week and that 9 in 10 work weekends. By comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that just one-tenth of the American population worked more than 49 hours a week in 2014 with the average non-state employee clocking in around35 hours a week.

Related:Your Workday Is Interrupted Every 11 Minutes. How to Manage Those Distractions.

Despite the extra time and effort small businesses need, 65% of those surveyed by OnDeck say entrepreneurship has put them in a better financial position than if they had an employer. A whopping 90% say they'd never look back.

Although entrepreneurs work long hours, more than half surveyed say they still have work/life balance, as technology plays a major role in giving business owners more flexibility, explains Gellert.

For more insights from the survey, check out the infographic below from OnDeck.

Click to Enlarge+
9 in 10 Surveyed Choose Entrepreneurship, Despite the Sacrifices (Infographic)


Related:American 'Work Martyrs' Are Too Afraid to Take Time Off, Study Finds

Tanya Benedicto Klich

Data & Featured Lists Editor

Tanya Benedicto Klich is a data and lists editor at Entrepreneur.com.

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