You run a small business because it makes you happy, right? Well, you aren't alone in feeling that way. For a large portion of small business owners in America, being in business for themselves means more to them than receiving a big paycheck, reports a recent survey.

The findings from a Discover Small Business Watch poll found that 61 percent of the 1,000 entrepreneurs that participated in the survey "said they would not give up the independence of running their own business to make more money working for someone else," according to an article in The New York Times.

In addition, 46 percent of small business owners said they decided to go into business for themselves in the first place because of the freedom it presents and the more convenient work schedule.

The flexibility that survey respondents also said they value doesn’t necessarily translate into fewer working hours: "28 percent of business owners work at least six days a week and 52 percent took off seven days or fewer for the year, compared with 36 percent of the overall population," the article states.

cfoster@safnow.org