Survey: AI usage among small businesses up 41%
Artificial intelligence adoption among companies with between 10-100 employees is becoming more widespread.
Current AI usage for small businesses jumped from 39% in 2024 to 55% in 2025, a 41% increase, according to a new survey from sales and marketing platform Thryv. The majority of small business users (80%) surveyed believe AI is “essential” to reaching new customers, and 78% say it’s necessary to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and personalization. These perceived benefits outweigh concerns about data security, which decreased 40% year over year.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of small business users say they use AI daily. Top applications include data analysis (62%), content generation (55%), and customer engagement tools like chatbots (46%).
Almost six-in-10 (58%) reported saving over 20 hours per month, reinvesting that time into growth initiatives like process improvement, customer acquisition and innovation. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents said AI saves their business between $500 and $2,000 monthly, with savings often redirected towards marketing, technology upgrades and infrastructure.
“Small businesses have moved beyond wondering if they should use AI – they’re determining how fast they can implement it,” said Grant Freeman, president of Thryv. “This embrace of AI underscores the value small businesses place on technology. AI is helping them do more with less, reach new customers, and operate with the agility of much larger businesses.”
[READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Businesses lag in readiness for AI search and shopping]
Additional insights from the Thryv survey include the following:
- Two-thirds (67%) of small business users agree that AI takes pressure off themselves and their staff, and almost half (46%) say it will make them less reliant on employees.
- While only 14% of respondents believe AI could replace an employee, nearly half (42%) are open to the idea under the right conditions.
- Four-in-10 (41%) of small businesses believe AI will help them navigate economic uncertainty, with another 40% saying it might. Optimism is highest among white-collar and service-based businesses, where over 70% see AI as a strategic advantage.
Methodology
Thryv’s survey included 540 small business respondents between May 4-14, 2025. Respondents were decision-makers for their business aged 21 and older, have been in business for one year or more, have 1 to 100 employees, and report revenue ranging from $100,000 to $9.9 million.
