2013 Small Business Pulse Survey Infographic - Newsroom - The ...
The Hartford 2013 Small Business Pulse The Hartford conducted research to better understand the current mindset and outlook of small business owners across America. Our 2013 Small Business Pulse was fielded via phone to 1,000 owners of businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees that have been in business for at least one year.
Small Business Owners Playing It Safer In Rising Trend
Owners are becoming increasingly more conservative with the 80% overall level of risk they are taking with 70% their business.
80% 73%
60% 50%
49%
40% Spring 2012
Fall 2012
Spring 2013
Cautiously Optimistic
73
%
When comparing the national and local economy, respondents felt more optimistic about local than national:
of small business owners feel successful
44%
OPEN
Local
47
%
23%
National
feel optimistic that the national economy will strengthen this year
33% said neither
Major Risks Declining Small business owners say the top three major risks to their businesses are the following, down from fall 2012:
67% 59% 52%
53% 44%
40%
IRS
Slow economic growth
Health care costs Fall 2012
Taxes
Spring 2013
Hiring Standstill
68
%
Have not hired in the past year
63
%
Do not plan to hire in the next year
Of those that have hired in the last year, % have only hired
70 1 or 2 employees
Small business owners that have not hired or have not hired as much as they would have liked in the past year, say they haven’t done so primarily because:
They can’t afford to hire
47%
Their business isn’t growing
39%
They’re taking on additional responsibilities themselves
39%
Only 14% cited a lack of qualified talent as a reason for not hiring.
For more information on the survey and The Hartford’s small business offerings, visit www.thehartford.com/pulse Copyright © 2013 by The Hartford. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, published or posted without the permission of The Hartford.
Small Business Owners Playing It Safer In Rising Trend
Owners are becoming increasingly more conservative with the 80% overall level of risk they are taking with 70% their business.
80% 73%
60% 50%
49%
40% Spring 2012
Fall 2012
Spring 2013
Cautiously Optimistic
73
%
When comparing the national and local economy, respondents felt more optimistic about local than national:
of small business owners feel successful
44%
OPEN
Local
47
%
23%
National
feel optimistic that the national economy will strengthen this year
33% said neither
Major Risks Declining Small business owners say the top three major risks to their businesses are the following, down from fall 2012:
67% 59% 52%
53% 44%
40%
IRS
Slow economic growth
Health care costs Fall 2012
Taxes
Spring 2013
Hiring Standstill
68
%
Have not hired in the past year
63
%
Do not plan to hire in the next year
Of those that have hired in the last year, % have only hired
70 1 or 2 employees
Small business owners that have not hired or have not hired as much as they would have liked in the past year, say they haven’t done so primarily because:
They can’t afford to hire
47%
Their business isn’t growing
39%
They’re taking on additional responsibilities themselves
39%
Only 14% cited a lack of qualified talent as a reason for not hiring.
For more information on the survey and The Hartford’s small business offerings, visit www.thehartford.com/pulse Copyright © 2013 by The Hartford. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, published or posted without the permission of The Hartford.
