[January 18, 2017] |
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Small Business Owners Are Highly Optimistic about 2017, Outpacing the General Public
A large percentage of American small business owners are optimistic for
growth in 2017 with some important investments in their businesses,
including hiring, according to a New York Life survey of more than 1,200
small business owners fielded recently by Ipsos Public Affairs.
Interestingly, the optimism among small business owners significantly
outpaces that of the general public.
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Small Business Owners
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Americans Age 30 and Up
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Expect financial situation to improve in the coming year
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60%
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43%
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When asked about financial expectations for their business in 2017, 60
percent of small business owners are optimistic compared to 43 percent
of Americans age 30 and over, who were asked the same question about
their personal finances in a study New York Life issued in late
December. This optimism can be attributed to a number of areas that
small business owners expect will have a positive impact on their
businesses:
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Technology - 75%
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The new political landscape - 57%
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The employment market/talent pool - 56%
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Interest rates - 54%
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Health insurance - 53%
"Small business owners are heading into 2017 with good feelings, and
this was consistent across size and years in business," said Brian
Madgett, Vice President, New York Life.
Small Business Owners Are Building Their Companies in 2017:
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Plan to incorporate mobile technology in my business
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66%
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Plan to network more with other business owners and/or professionals
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64%
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Plan to grow my company- e.g, open another location, increase
revenues, expand capabilities, etc.
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62%
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Plan to seek additional capital
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55%
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Plan to hire more employees
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52%
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Plan to improve my employee benefits package
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49%
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Plan to take out a loan
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46%
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Some of the key planning steps (financial and otherwise) that small
business owners are interested in taking throughout 2017 include:
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Learning about ways to minimize taxes - 79%
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Taking a family vacation - 75%
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Learning about ways to build an emergency fund - 71%
"Small business owners have big plans for 2017, with many looking to
incorporate tech, seek capital, hire, improve offerings to employees and
explore ways to better manage their money," said Madgett. "We're hearing
positive economic sentiments across the country in our conversations
with small business leaders. With this shift in attitude comes a renewed
interest in financial planning and is no wonder that 55 percent report
they plan to engage a financial professional for assistance as it
relates to their business needs in 2017."
About the Survey
These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted November 30 - December
8, 2016 on behalf of New York Life. For the survey, a sample of 1,244
U.S. adults over the age of 18 was interviewed online, in English. In
order to qualify, respondents had to be owners of business that employed
no more than 500 employees. After a sample has been obtained from the
Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be
representative of the U.S. The source of these population targets is
U.S. Census 2015 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for
this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post-hoc
weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age,
region, race/ethnicity and income. The precision of Ipsos online polls
is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a
credibility interval of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points for all
respondents surveyed.
About New York Life
New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in
1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States*
and one of the largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the
highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any
life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies: A.M.
Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody's Investors Service (Aaa), Standard &
Poor's (AA+).** Headquartered in New York City, New York Life's family
of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and
long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments*** provides
institutional asset management. Other New York Life affiliates provide
an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual
funds. Please visit New York Life's website at www.newyorklife.com
for more information.
*Based on revenue as reported by "Fortune 500 ranked within
Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual)," Fortune magazine,
6/17/16. For methodology, please see http://fortune.com/fortune500/
.
**Individual independent rating agency commentary as of 8/9/16.
***New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life
Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life
Investment Management LLC.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005788/en/
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