📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

U.S. Small Businesses Expect Improved Sales Prospects (Infographic) A new survey shows that entrepreneurs in the U.S. are optimistic about domestic business growth.

By Catherine Clifford

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Even in the face of obstacles, entrepreneurs are fiercely optimistic by nature. They have to be to weather the inevitable struggles that come along with being a business owner.

Nine out of 10 U.S. startups and small businesses are worried about how the U.S. economy will affect their business, according to research released today from tech-giants Dell and Intel. At the same time, 75 percent of small business owners in the U.S. who responded to the survey expect improving sales prospects in the coming year. Whatever growth there will be in the coming year is expected to come from business in the U.S., not overseas, according to 84 percent of survey respondents.

Related: The Habits of Self-Made Billionaires (Infographic)

The research was performed by market-research firm Penn Schoen Berland and includes the responses from 941 businesses with between 1 and 99 employees, which has been collected since 2012. The business owners surveyed were scattered through nine U.S. metropolitan regions, including the following: Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Orange County, Austin, Texas, Philadelphia, Boston and Seattle.

Related: Small-Business Owners, Employees Save More for Retirement Than Before Recession

The infographic (below) includes how small business owners feel about the coming year, where they are getting access to capital, what their employment strategy is and how they are managing their technology needs:

U.S. Small Businesses Expect Improved Sales Prospects (Infographic)
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

Most People Have No Business Starting a Business. Here's What to Consider Before You Become an Entrepreneur

You need to find the right business opportunity at the right time and take the right steps to beat the odds.

Leadership

AI vs. Humanity — Why Humans Will Always Win in Content Creation

With the proliferation and integration of AI across organizations and business units, PR and marketing professionals may be tempted to lean into this new technology more than recommended.

Growing a Business

Who You Hire Matters — Here's How to Form a Team That's Built to Last

Among the many challenges related to managing a small business, hiring a quality team of employees is one of the most important. Check out this list of tips and best practices to find the best people for your business.

Leadership

This Leadership Technique is the Secret to Optimal Team Performance

Through my experience in business, I've found one particular leadership technique that works better than others.

Management

7 Ways You Can Use AI to 10x Your Leadership Skills

While technology can boost individual efficiency and effectiveness, it's essential to balance their use with human intuition and creativity to avoid losing personal connection and to optimize workplace satisfaction.

Business News

Passengers Are Now Entitled to a Full Cash Refund for Canceled Flights, 'Significant' Delays

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced new rules for commercial passengers on Wednesday.