Self-determination, I love working for myself and being my own boss
52%
Lack of other opportunities, self-employment is the best way to create them
36%
To stretch myself, self-employment pushes me further than life as an employee
33%
Employers not paying enough, I can only make ends meet through self-employment
33%
For my sanity, I hate my other job and self-employment is more fulfilling
32%
Lost a job, I was initially forced into self-employment to create income
22%
Housing costs, I have to have multiple jobs to pay the rent/mortgage
20%
Credit card debt, I had to become self-employed to pay it off
17%
Student loan debt, self-employment is the only way to get ahead
8%
None of the above
4%
Sample: 1,370 US adults (age 18+) who have started a self-employed business.