RESEARCH shows that owners of private middle market companies are more likely to sell their businesses than pass them on to family members.

A Growing Business survey from business advisers KPMG revealed that 90 per cent of owners nationally -- 89 per cent in the North-west -- did not consider handing the business to their children a medium term priority.

Mr Stuart Burdass, a Manchester-based partner in KPMG's Owner Manager Business practice, said: "These headline findings reveal the healthy state of this vibrant and dynamic sector which is driven by a hunger to be successful and indepependent.

"It also underlines a fundamental change in attitude within the growing business sector.

"Traditionally family owned and managed businesses have been just that -- companies built up and passed on to future generations.

"Today's middle market business owners appear to have little desire to build up their business purely to pass on to someone within the family."

The survey also suggested that profits and personal satisfaction were the top two motivators for being your own boss.

Copies of the KPMG Growing Business Survey are available on 01923 214000, quoting publication number 9916.