OWNING ONE FIRM IS NOT ENOUGH

* More than 40 percent of small business owners had operated another business before or in addition to the one they are currently operating, according to a survey of 523 entrepreneurs by the Kessler Exchange, a research firm.

Of those small-business owners with additional businesses, 65 percent said they no longer own all of the businesses they operated. About 63 percent of those who no longer own all their businesses said they had sold a previous business.

This demonstrates small-business owners' willingness to take on new challenges, the survey says.