Most Small Business Owners Expect Rebound Soon

PLANSPONSOR.COM

August 3, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Though the economy still tops their list of concerns, the majority of small business owners surveyed said they expect an economic turnaround this year or next.

According to Administaff, one sign of this is that 60% of owners and managers it surveyed said they are maintaining current staffing levels, while 23% are adding new positions, up from the 18% in the survey conducted three months ago. …

The survey also revealed that 68% of participants expect to maintain employee compensation at current levels for the remainder of this year; 10% plan increases; 6% expect decreases; and 16% were unsure.

According to a press release on the survey, more than 58% of small business owners expect an economic turnaround in 2010, while 14% anticipate a rebound by the end of 2009. …

The economy was listed by 83% of business owners as their biggest concern for 2009, followed by government health care reform (53%), controlling operating costs (44%), and rising health care costs (33%). However, for 2010 and later, concern about the overall state of the economy fell to fourth place.

In the survey conducted late last month, 60% of owners and managers surveyed said they are either meeting or exceeding their 2009 performance plans, with the remaining 40% reporting that they are doing worse than expected.

Rebecca Moore editors@plansponsor.com