The Morning Briefing: SME statistics and trends
"The Morning Briefing" is SmartPlanet's daily roundup of must-read stories from the web. This morning we're reading about trends, tools and statistics concerning small businesses in 2012.
1.) Small business owners 'optimistic' in 2012. The Small Business Authority Market Sentiment Survey conducts research gauging the overall mood of small business owners around the country on a monthly basis. 1,000 owners are surveyed and asked questions concerning their views on the economy. This month's survey found that 55 percent of small business owners believe that 2012 will be an improvement on 2011.
2.) Seven trends small businesses should 'not ignore' this year. In order to be successful in running your business, you cannot afford to ignore recent and modern trends in consumer behaviour, technology and finance. Some of the trends discussed in this article include social media, hiring practice, and cloud computing.
3.) 'Big ideas' proposal to assist small businesses find health insurance plans. An interesting proposal that suggests changes in policy to assist small businesses in organising and maintaining healthcare plans. Finding an affordable option can be a hazardous business, and small businesses typically spend an average of 18 percent more than large firms for comparable insurance policies.
4.) Tax changes for businesses in 2012 to be aware of. A chunky but interesting take on some of the changes within U.S small business legislation. Governor Snyder and the Michigan legislature have rejected the Michigan Business Tax for 2012 -- a short-lived option that replaced the Single Business Tax that some deemed both difficult to comply with and unfair.
5.) Infographic reveals women-owned small businesses increase by over 20 percent. A recently released BOLT Infographic highlights an increase in growth of women-owned small businesses within the U.S. They have increased in number by over 20 percent, and apparently account for nearly three trillion dollars in economic impact.
6.) Is private equity a friend or foe? For many entrepreneurs, private equity is crucial for financing a project when growth reaches a plateau. However, private equity is an unstable business, and when a company that’s taken it fails, it is sometimes hard to know where to apportion blame.
Photo credit: Ken Teegardin/Flickr
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com