How Small Businesses Operate

HOW Small Businesses OPERATE Small business owners are a unique breed. They have a reputation as passionate, driven, independent, and enterprising business owners. But what do we really know about how they operate their businesses? A November 2011 Intuit Small Business Survey sought to find out. WHAT THEY'RE IN IT FOR 1 Small business owners are passionate about what they do. They begin their businesses with personal passion, and few stray from that initial purpose. The number one reason for starting a small business: 67% 21% %% Personal passion A way to pay the bills 8% 3% No opinion In between jobs TArecession TIME MANAGEMENT For many small business owners it can seem like there are never enough hours in the day. Not surprisingly, conducting usual business (for example, a florist arranging bouquets) is the most time consuming. After that, sales take up the most time each week. Time spent per week on various business tasks (in hours): |14 (5 Communications phone calls, emails, and text messages Financial Conducting 3 management accounting business services Sales attracting and retaining customers Web marketing managing company websites, blogs, and social media accounts Employee management hiring, day-to-day management, and payroll Getting paid = Contact Other invoicing, collections, and payments processing management organizing company contact info marketing activities As enterprises now are starting to shift away from an all-office workplace, small business owners are already mobile workers. IN AND OUT Time spent per week managing their business (by location): Running the business on the go 21 In the office 12 HOURS HOURS WHERE WORK IS DONE Small business owners are split between a formal business space and home as the place they're most likely to manage their business. Most likely places to manage the business: 46% 46% 3% 3% 1% At my office/ place of business At a client's location In the car No opinion At home At events USING MOBILE TO MANAGE BUSINESS ON THE GO Small business owners rely on their mobile devices to get work done and check it often throughout the day. 21 Is the average number of times a day small business owners use a mobile device to conduct business. How important is it to run your business with a mobile device? 40% 12% 48% Very Not at all Somewhat DEVICE OF CHOICE Laptops dominate mobile working for small business owners, and the iPhone tops the smartphone options. Most relied on mobile devices: 30% Laptop 19% 10% 12% 14% 11% iPhone Android phone BlackBerry Other None 3% 1% |Tablet No opinion intuit. SOURCE: NOVEMBER 2011 INTUIT SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY