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 [email protected] 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%
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