Our Research: Entrepreneurship & Independent Economy

Small business owners are suffering from weak sales and decreased customer demand, and on top of that, a lack of access to capital. It is difficult for small business owners to access the capital that will help them grow, hire and jumpstart the economy. Our new opinion polling shows an overwhelming 90% of small business owners nationwide agree the availability of capital for small businesses is a problem.

Mon, 04/26/2021
Small business owner

Across the country, more Americans are being vaccinated every day and many are ready and eager to “get back to normal.” At the same time, consumer demand is still down as parts of the country grapple with a new wave of COVID-19 cases and continued public health orders, and nearly 10 million Americans remain out of work.

Thu, 04/08/2021
Small business owner wearing mask

As we approached the one-year mark of the initial public health shutdowns in the U.S. that sent shockwaves through our economy, Small Business Majority reviewed a year’s worth of surveys conducted of our network of 85,000 small businesses, as well as other national polling we commissioned and additional research and qualitative feedback from our network, in order to better understand the state of small businesses.

Wed, 12/16/2020
California Small Business Survey

As the COVID-19 pandemic has raged across the country and resurges in California, small business owners continue grappling with the effects of state and local public health orders and a loss in consumer demand. Nine months into this crisis, California’s small business owners say their businesses have been diminished, leaving them with reduced revenue and operating capacity.

Wed, 08/05/2020
Small business survey

As Congress continues to debate the next round of stimulus relief, Small Business Majority surveyed its national network of small business owners to gauge their views on key small business proposals currently on the table.

Wed, 07/01/2020
Small business owner wearing mask

As the Paycheck Protection Program neared its expiration, Small Business Majority surveyed its national network of small business owners to better understand how businesses have benefited from PPP.

Thu, 05/28/2020
PPP Loan Application

Small Business Majority surveyed its national network of small business owners to better understand who has benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the CARES Act, and to shed a light on their concerns with the program. The survey reveals a strong majority of small businesses have applied for a PPP loan, but most are worried about having the loan forgiven. 

Tue, 04/21/2020
Business closed

It’s no secret that California has been hard hit by the spread of COVID-19, with a vast 2.7 million applying for unemployment in the past four weeks, and the impacts have been particularly severe on small businesses that have seen their revenues take a nosedive overnight. With the economy on pause, Main Street has been left to cope with how to stay afloat during this unprecedented time.

Tue, 04/14/2020
Covid-19

It’s no secret that the spread of COVID-19 around the country has already had a devastating impact on small businesses. With the economy on pause and uncertainty gripping communities across the country, Main Street has been left to cope with how to stay afloat during this unprecedented time.

Tue, 08/13/2019
Open for business

Policymakers at all levels, from town councils to the halls of Capitol Hill, emphasize the challenges of small businesses as a key talking point during political debates. But new opinion polling in four states—Illinois, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin—reveals small businesses feel their government officials don’t actually understand their challenges, and they support a wide array of policies to address their needs, some of which might come as a surprise to their elected officials.

Tue, 02/12/2019

This report compiles findings from focus groups and roundtable discussions with rural small business owners and other small business stakeholders in four states, as well as the results of a national poll of rural small business owners. The report also features recommendations for policymakers and service providers to increase opportunities for rural entrepreneurs.

Pages