Survey: Small businesses optimistic, seek higher revenue

Framingham, Mass. - The majority of small business leaders (87%) are optimistic about the year ahead. According to a recent Staples small business survey conducted online by Research Now, leaders are focused on results, with the top three small business goals in 2015 consisting of increasing revenue (76%), driving profits (70%) and gaining more customers (70%).



Promotional marketing (46%), better organization (38%) and software technology upgrades (35%) are the top tactics small businesses plan to use to meet these goals.

Other notable findings include:



• 25% of small businesses plan to increase technology use to help manage business costs.



• Nearly half of small businesses (47%) want to stop spending money on ineffective marketing and promotional campaigns.



• More than two-thirds (68%) want to attract more customers this year, and more than one third (38%) want to retain current customers longer.



• About one-third (32%) report they want to provide bonuses to their employees as part of their 2015 plan, and 29% said they want to give their employees a raise.



• The majority of small business leaders are both bargain hunters in their personal life (88%) as well as at their business (85%).



• Most small businesses leaders (79%) want to use vendors that offer rewards and points that can be used toward future purchases.



• More than one-third of small business leaders want to grow their business by expanding their product line or services.