{"id":167,"date":"2025-09-08T08:34:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/?p=167"},"modified":"2025-09-11T16:30:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T16:30:13","slug":"lonely-entrepreneurs-are-asking-ai-for-business-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/08\/lonely-entrepreneurs-are-asking-ai-for-business-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Lonely entrepreneurs are asking AI for business help"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than half of UK SME owners are now turning to AI tools for business guidance, according to a recent study from the payment processing company Worldpay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Access to professional advice can be limited or expensive. Worldpay finds that accountants, mentors, and late-night Google searches are being replaced by digital assistants like ChatGPT, which can generate answers, ideas, and even strategies in seconds, at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The old ways have not yet disappeared, however, with <\/span>93% of business owners <\/b>still also relying on trusted tech partners, friends, and family. But AI adoption is steadily rising, especially among younger entrepreneurs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Isolation may be another factor. <\/span>Sole traders<\/span><\/a> who work independently often lack colleagues or mentors to lean on, making it easier to fire up a chatbot for quick advice rather than building ‘real-world’ advisory networks.<\/span><\/p>\n

How SMEs are using AI for advice<\/h2>\n

The study from Worldpay<\/a> found that <\/span>53% of UK SME owners now regularly turn to AI tools for business advice<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

The trend is strongest among young founders; 60% of business owners aged 25–34 said they use AI tools, like ChatGPT, for support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other digital platforms remain popular. YouTube leads the way with 51% of respondents seeking advice there, followed by LinkedIn (41%), and Facebook or Instagram (37%). <\/span><\/p>\n

TikTok use<\/span><\/a> is lower overall, with 31% of SME owners using it for business advice. But, among ‘digital native’ entrepreneurs aged 18–24, that figure almost doubles to 60%. <\/span><\/p>\n

AI chatbots can be a valuable tool for small business owners. They offer quick answers, support with content creation, help with brainstorming new ideas, and even allow for scenario planning when weighing up important decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it’s not perfect. While AI is fast and accessible, it’s not always accurate. Bosses should treat AI as a starting point and <\/span>always <\/span><\/i>cross-check advice against trusted sources or professional guidance – as Jeremy Clarkson found out<\/a> the hard way.<\/span><\/p>\n

The isolation of running a business alone<\/h2>\n

Running a business alone has always come with its challenges, but as remote working and digital reliance increase, that sense of isolation can be even more acute.<\/span><\/p>\n

For many sole traders, isolation is one of the biggest struggles. Without colleagues or managers to bounce ideas off, decision-making can feel lonely and overwhelming. The appeal of AI is clear. It’s a kind of <\/span>virtual assistant<\/span><\/a> that provides instant feedback at all hours and helps business owners think through ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

AI offers quick, low-cost input that feels like having a permanent “sounding board” on hand. And with rising employment costs causing many SMEs to <\/span>slow down on hiring<\/span><\/a>, leaning on digital tools for support is understandable.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, 93% of business owners still rely on their trusted tech partners, mentors, and <\/span>networks<\/span><\/a> for advice. Coaches, accountants, and peers play a vital role in guiding SMEs, proving that technology hasn’t replaced human experience and judgment just yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where can business owners go for advice?<\/h2>\n

Often, the best approach is to build a mix of support that suits your business style and growth stage. Friends, family, and peer communities are always a valuable source of wisdom, particularly in the early days of running a business.<\/span><\/p>\n

Accountants, software providers, and other trusted service partners can also bring expertise and practical insights that can help you avoid costly mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Online platforms are also popular and cost-effective. YouTube tutorials, LinkedIn and Facebook groups can provide a wealth of advice often tailored to the challenges of your niche or industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, local business hubs, government-backed initiatives, and online resources such as us here at Startups offer professional, up-to-date guidance on <\/span>setting up a business<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The post Lonely entrepreneurs are asking AI for business help<\/a> appeared first on Startups.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than half of UK SME owners are now turning to AI tools for business guidance, according to a recent study from the payment processing company Worldpay. Access to professional advice can be limited or expensive. Worldpay finds that accountants, mentors, and late-night Google searches […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-startups"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168,"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions\/168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ccsbinc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}