2022 Small Business Survey Results
The Year Ahead
The pulse of the small business market
First Citizens strives to be a trusted partner to businesses throughout our communities. We recently conducted our eighth annual Small Business Forecast to better understand the opportunities and challenges the current climate presents to business owners and managers. We hope you find the learnings as interesting and valuable as we do.
How are small business owners feeling about their business?
67%
Over half of all respondents considered their business successful or very successful in the previous year, up 8 points from 2021's survey.
49%
Nearly half of small businesses are optimistic about long-term economic conditions over the next 2 to 3 years, down 14 points from 2021's survey.
80%
Nearly 8 out of 10 businesses are confident they'll grow in the next year, a result on par with 2021.
53%
Uncertainty around macroeconomic conditions is cited as the biggest challenge to small businesses last year.
Are small businesses looking for funding?
Are you planning for growth in 2022?
35% plan to add new products and services—a 6-point increase from 2021's survey
40% plan to increase their advertising and marketing budget, on par with last year
42% plan to hire more employees
43% plan to continue to prioritize current customer loyalty and satisfaction
23% cite employee retention as a core growth strategy, up 5 points from last year
28% plan to upgrade current facilities and equipment—a 2-point increase from 2021 that continues a steady year-over-year trend
