Research has revealed the factors that contribute to owner-managers feeling they have "made it".

The accounting software company, KashFlow.co.uk, has conducted research within the small to medium sized enterprise market and discovered that the most common factor that makes small business owners consider their business to have “made it” is when they have made over £250k-£500k profit cleared and in their business bank account.

Additional milestones include: "Winning a business award", "product or service having featured in national media editorial", "purchased their own offices" and having a "large team of employees – (50 or above)."

The Top 5 personal circumstances that would make them consider that they had created a successful business are as follows:

1.    When they don’t have to work but choose to
2.    When they have a large cash amount in the bank (£1m+)
3.    When their mortgage is paid off
4.    When they can afford to own and run two homes
5.    When they can whisk friends and family off for all expenses paid holidays