Archive: Data Points
Study: Energy Costs a Challenge for Some Small Firms
The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy released a study late last month that examined energy costs. Characterization and Analysis of Small Business Energy Costs explores whether rising energy costs are harming small business growth. The analysis found that small entities in the manufacturing and construction sectors pay higher prices...
By Sharon McLoone | May 5, 2008; 11:36 AM ET | Comments (0)
Women Entrepreneurs Spur Economic Growth
Women entrepreneurs are key contributors to economic growth in low- and middle-income countries, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a new report from the Center for Women's Leadership at Babson College. Data gathered for the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report on women and entrepreneurs show that women who are...
By Sharon McLoone | May 2, 2008; 10:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
Educated, Older Women Flock to Entrepreneurship
The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy today released a study that examines why women are emerging as a fast-growing sector of new small business owners. The study, Human Capital and Women's Business Ownership, which focused on women who were self-employed and held only one job, found that self-employed women...
By Sharon McLoone | April 28, 2008; 01:36 PM ET | Comments (3)
Small Firms Remain Optimistic, but Recession Looms
Most small businesses say the nation's state of economic uncertainty and lack of health insurance and available capital are the most significant challenges they face in growing and maintaining their businesses. The National Small Business Association released a study today that covers a broad range of business owners' opinions on...
By Sharon McLoone | April 16, 2008; 10:04 AM ET | Comments (0)
Small Business - Smiling in the Face of Adversity
While joblessness is on the upswing and reports show that employers shed jobs in March, new data reveal that small firms are hiring. "It has to be tough to grow a business in this economic climate. It's like being a goldfish swimming upstream into a fire hose," said Michael Alter,...
By Sharon McLoone | April 4, 2008; 03:24 PM ET | Comments (2)
Not Making a Profit in Your Start-Up? You're Not Alone
Most start-ups don't see revenue in their first year of business and more than half show a loss during their first year, according to new data released (pdf) from the Kauffman Foundation. The group has been tracking about 5,000 businesses founded in 2004 to get a better snapshot of how...
By Sharon McLoone | March 25, 2008; 09:15 AM ET | Comments (1)
SBA Launches Inner-City Initiative
The Small Business Administration on Tuesday announced that it has chosen 11 cities to participate in an initiative designed to stimulate jobs and growth while targeting inner-city small businesses. The Emerging 200 plan will begin in: Albuquerque, N.M.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Des Moines, Iowa; Memphis, Tenn.; Milwaukee, Wis.; New...
By Sharon McLoone | March 12, 2008; 10:20 AM ET | Comments (0)
Credit Card Interest Rates Hit Home
The Federal Reserve's dramatic rate cuts were expected to make it cheaper for consumers to use credit cards. But credit card interest rates remain high and in many cases have even climbed, reports Washington Post Staff Writer Nancy Trejos in a front-page story today. Her story also touches on several...
By Sharon McLoone | February 11, 2008; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (1)
Small Business Hiring Sees Uptick in 2007
While there is a lot of gloom and doom about the state of the nation's economy, new data released Friday by one of the nation's largest payroll providers show that there were some bright spots for small businesses in 2007. SurePayroll analyzed payroll data for more than 18,000 small firms...
By Sharon McLoone | January 6, 2008; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Study Looks at Characteristics of Self-Employed
Serving in the military, having a college degree and owning a home all are factors that increase the likelihood of self-employment, according to a new government study. Here are some highlights of "Educational Attainment and Other Characteristics of the Self-Employed" from the Small Business Administration: *An individual with military experience...
By Sharon McLoone | December 18, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
Small Firms Pay More to Comply with Disability Law
New data from the Small Business Administration reinforces earlier findings that small businesses pay more than large ones when it comes to complying with disability law. Before signing a lease or buying a building to set up shop, any small firm should consider whether its new space will need alterations...
By Sharon McLoone | December 3, 2007; 03:25 PM ET | Comments (1)
Entrepreneurs Turn to Franchises
Franchises are becoming an increasingly popular way to start a business without totally flying solo. Today, there are more than 3,000 franchise brands that span 230 different types of businesses, according to a new study (pdf) from a unit of the International Franchise Association. The fast-food category still remains king,...
By Sharon McLoone | November 26, 2007; 09:15 AM ET | Comments (1)
Study: Fraud Is Increasing Concern For Small Firms
Small businesses are increasingly becoming concerned about fraud especially over the Internet, according to a new study (pdf). Eighty-four percent of small firms said they are more concerned about fraud in connection with their business finances than they were a year ago. Additionally, 74 percent of respondents said they rely...
By Sharon McLoone | November 12, 2007; 10:25 AM ET | Comments (1)
D.C. Ranks Last in Best Policies for Entrepreneurs
The District of Columbia holds the dubious distinction of coming in dead last in an index released this month ranking the most policy-friendly states for entrepreneurs. In fact, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council's report mentions that D.C.'s rankings would have been even lower if the council had included the...
By Sharon McLoone | November 9, 2007; 10:20 AM ET | Comments (2)
Halloween: Powered by Small Business
As you dutifully dole out Halloween treats today and enjoy your neighborhood costumes, peruse some of these statistics culled from 2004 U.S. Census Bureau data. * Ninety-four percent of the 135 businesses in the nation that made chocolate and confections from cacao beans had fewer than 500 employees. Seventy-six percent...
By Sharon McLoone | October 31, 2007; 08:03 AM ET | Email a Comment
Study: Start-Ups Tend to Stay Small
Most small businesses don't grow much after their birth, says a new small business study, which also concludes that people today "probably know more about the life cycle of ants than... the life cycle of businesses." Brian Headd of the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy and Bruce Kirchhoff from...
By Sharon McLoone | October 24, 2007; 03:20 PM ET | Email a Comment
New Data Available on Women-Owned Firms
Women-owned firms employ nearly 13 million people and generate $1.9 trillion in sales, according to the latest data from the Center for Women's Business Research. The center released "Key Facts about Women-Owned Business - a 2007 Update" on Tuesday. The hard-copy brochure is a compilation of the center's most recent...
By Sharon McLoone | August 30, 2007; 07:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
Minorities Start Fewer Businesses, Study Says
Black and Hispanic budding entrepreneurs face greater odds in opening a business than their non-minority counterparts, according to a new small business study. "The Effect of Wealth and Race on Start-up Rates" (pdf) found that a minority has about a 55 percent lower chance of opening a business than a...
By Sharon McLoone | July 26, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Region Shows Dip in Small Business Growth
A dearth of highly skilled workers in Maryland and Virginia may be hurting the area's small business growth, according to new data from payroll provider SurePayroll. The company reported Monday that the small business economy continues to expand across the nation, with June marking the seventh straight month of growth....
By Sharon McLoone | July 10, 2007; 12:02 PM ET | Comments (2)
