Small Business Time Machine

Small Business

Where Small Business Grows™

Small business firsts

Manta-Dell Study Reveals Unique Insights into Small Business Ownership and the Life of an Entrepreneur

Time Machine

Source: March 2014 survey of 3,025 Manta.com members who have claimed their Manta company page. Margin of error +/-1.78%. For more on the Manta-Dell Survey, please contact manta@highwirepr.com or access the full survey results at manta.com/press.

Where were SBOs when they decided to start their business?

What was the SBO’s �rst priority when starting their business?

Which of these business milestones are most important to an SBO?

First technology investment of the business owner:

Which of these “�rsts” are they most proud of?

What season did they start their business?

(16% Other)

(20% Other/no response)

49%At my last job

26%Other

16% At kitchen table

9% Vacation, party, network event

23%Fall

22%Winter

21%Summer

34%Spring

37%Getting repeat customers

21% Networking to promote the business

18% Writing the business plan

17% Getting the equipment I need

Advice from entrepreneurs

Getting business locationObtain �nancing

10%

9%

7%

Hiring2%

First pro�table year14%Recognition from peers/community10%Opening or expanding location10%First sale/dollar earned9%

(37% Other/no response)

Host company celebration15%Giving employee bonuses15%O�ering bene�ts to employees4%

(20% Other/no response)

Smartphone9%Tablet3%Internal server2%

Money does not make the world go aroundWhat motivates small business owners (SBOs) to be successful?

37% Personal achievement/lifelong dream

12%

10%

28% Financial stabilityGiving back to community

Great customers(13% Other)

Significant milestones and proudest moments

The role of technology in small business

Sneak peek into the future – Serial entrepreneurs on the rise

29%Our �rst

award

Biggest technology milestones for the SBO:

The small business plan of the SBO for the next �ve years:

Emerging technology expected to have a signi�cant impact on their business:

SBOs that would start another small business:

(20% Other/no response)

(14% Other/no response)

Introducing mobile devices/tablets9%Accounting/payroll software8%A mobile payment system6%Buying �rst server3%

(13% Other/no response)

(9% Other/no response)

Mobile technology32%Cloud computing10%Wearable technology4%

54%Launching

website

41%New social media

platforms

53%Desktop or laptop

13%Printer/scanner/fax

46% Growing and expanding my business

28% Maintaining my businessPass down business to family member

Being acquired

8%

4%