Small and medium-sized business bosses are saying it is too tough to own a firm in the current climate, according to a new survey.

The latest bi-annual SME Pulse from Aviva found that a quarter (26pc) of SME owners admit they no longer enjoy running their business, with a third (32pc) stating that they have lost the enthusiasm they had when they started their venture up. The findings also revealed that one in four (25pc) SME owners are considering returning to the workforce as an employee.

The findings come as a separate study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that middle managers were most likely to be looking for a new job after expressing dissatisfaction with their work-life balance, and feeling under 'excessive' pressure because of the state of the economy.

Norwich-based entrepreneur Norman Reece, who sells reconditioned catering equipment, said he will never give up, but dealing with his bank and the burden of business rates means running his company Norman Services is no fun and he would not wish to be in his situation much longer.

'It is going to be a long hard haul for me, but I am going to persevere,' he said.

Jon Woolston, owner managed business partner at Larking Gowen, said: 'I wouldn't say there were a lot of people looking to exit, but they are not confident that 2012 is going to be good.

'My own view is that whatever the government has done to remove red tape, it doesn't seem like it is much help. This is my third recession and I don't think as many businesses have gone to the wall.'

Martin Lake, Mid-Norfolk chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses - which has 3,500 members in Norfolk questioned the idea that bosses were throwing in the towel.

But he said there were onerous systems such as employment regulations that the FSB would like to see changed.

'As long as they can define their target market and provide a product that meets that market need I do not think markets have disappeared,' Mr Lake said. 'We are going through a re-balancing now there is a lot of money going out of the system. I am not aware through my many dealings with small businesses of anyone that is giving up because of the government.'