Nearly 70 per cent of Britain's business owners say that starting their business has hindered their sex life.

That is according to a survey of entrepreneurs by Business Startup, a free event that provides advice to new and expanding companies.

But despite a majority of new business owners reporting their sex life was on hold, only 14 per cent said their marriage was under strain due to the time spent getting their new venture up and running.

In fact, according to the survey, it was their hobbies that entrepreneurs tended to sacrifice to find extra time to devote to their new businesses.

Sir John Harvey Jones, star of TV's Troubleshooter and patron of Business Startup, urged would-be entrepreneurs not to be discouraged.

"Entrepreneurs should recognise that a disruption in routine is inevitable during the initial teething period to avoid becoming a casualty but as a small business owner myself, I can assure you that the sacrifices are only temporary," he said.

"It is also encouraging the survey revealed 57 per cent of startup owners work on average no more than 50 hours a week.

"This would be entirely manageable for most people, particularly knowing that it would be only temporary."