Small business owners feel they have “nobody to confide in” Nearly half of small business owners feel they have "nobody to confide in" about their problems and the stress they are under, according to research commissioned by AXA UK and Ireland. A poll of 500 SME owners found 48% found it hard to know who they can talk to about the stress they feel, with two-thirds not wanting to worry their family and friends. As a result of this, 44% feel they are unable to do the best possible job both for themselves and their staff. The top causes of stress for SME owners include the cost-of-living crisis (45%), finding new customers (37%), and inflation (35%).