Celebrate Thanksgiving and Shop Small Weekend
We wish you a happy thanksgiving! Show your love for local by participating in the Shop Small holiday weekend.
© Priscilla Du Preez
Small business owners are celebrating success and anticipating challenges this year. © Christiann Koepke
In October, we launched the 2024 Small Business Success and Support survey, our fall survey of small business owners across the U.S. We heard from 681 small business owners in 44 states plus the District of Columbia. As usual for our network, responses came from very small businesses: Two-thirds of the businesses had only one or two full-time employees, and 87% had fewer than five full-time employees. Main Street America’s small business surveys stand apart from other national surveys this way. For example, 38% of respondents in the October 2024 quarterly report from the National Federation of Independent Businesses had up to five full-time and part-time employees, while 68% of respondents to our survey were as small. Over 40% were retailers, and 20% were food and beverage businesses. Professional service businesses (10%), arts and entertainment organizations (7%), and personal service businesses (6%) were also well represented.
As is typical of our network, we heard from a mix of newly launched businesses and long-established community institutions, and from people of a variety of backgrounds. Thirty-six percent of the responding business owners represented enterprises launched in 2020 or more recently, and 38% had been in business for ten years or more. About 70% of respondents were women, 25% were men, and 2% were non-binary or gender nonconforming. Asked about other important parts of their identities, 7% of responding business owners indicated they were part of the LGBTQIA+ community, 5% were disabled persons, 4% were veterans, and 4% were immigrants.
Small Business Use of Artificial Intelligence
At Main Street America, we keep a keen eye on innovation and technology adoption, so in this survey, we tried to peek into the future and see how small business owners are adopting AI for their businesses. About two-thirds of respondents indicated they do not currently use AI for their businesses. Twenty-nine percent indicated they used ChatGPT. Google’s Gemini tool was the second most popular, with 7% of respondents saying they’d used it for their business.
We dug further and asked what small business owners use artificial intelligence tools for. Over one-fifth indicated that they’d used AI to generate marketing ideas or content, 25% used AI to develop business-related communications, 9% used AI to help generate business plans or operational ideas, and 2% used AI to analyze financials such as costs or revenue.
© Main Street America
Business strengths and rewarding experiences
When asked what they consider to be their business’s three greatest strengths, 61% celebrated building strong relationships with customers, 53% touted offering high quality and/or unique products or services, and 42% noted providing exceptional customer service. A third or more emphasized having deep knowledge of their products and services (38%) and highlighted being an anchor in their community (33%).
We also asked small business owners to share one of the most rewarding parts of their past year as a business owner. We heard responses related to their community connection and support, their customers’ appreciation and satisfaction, their growth and success, perseverance and resilience, their efforts to give back and have a social impact, and the awards and recognitions they received.
Challenges and Diminishing Confidence
Successes and rewarding experiences came amid a hard year and economic headwinds. We asked small business owners about the top three challenges they were currently facing. Fifty-seven percent pointed to increasing costs associated with inflation, labor shortages, and technology upgrades. One-third signaled that generating profit was a challenge and that attracting or retaining customers was difficult, and 26% pointed to the high cost of renting or maintaining their business location. Challenges keeping their businesses relevant and competitive (20%), facing online competition (19%), and struggling with employee hiring and retention (17%) were also often cited.
Business owner confidence took a hit. We have consistently asked the same question of small business owners over our last five twice-annual surveys: “As you think about the next three months, how confident are you that your business will perform successfully?” The results from the current survey were our lowest — down from an average score of 7.7 (out of ten) in Fall 2023 to 7.2 in the current survey. Where 61% of respondents indicated a confidence level between 8 and 10 in Fall 2023, only 50% rated their confidence that high this year.
We note that there are some disparities in business owner confidence hinging on their business sector. Owners of arts and entertainment businesses had the lowest average confidence score (6.6), whereas owners of fitness and outdoors (7.5), personal services (7.7), and professional services (8.8) were among the highest. Retail (6.9) and food and beverage businesses (7.1) had moderate confidence in this spectrum.
© Main Street America
Support received and the importance of Main Street relationships
We are always interested in understanding the types of support small business owners are getting from the Main Street network and the types of support that would be most valuable in the future. The survey results show that connections with local Main Street organizations matter. More than 60% of respondents indicated that they saw their relationship with their local Main Street organization as either important or very important to their business’s success. Only 8% said it was not important.
About one in four respondents to the survey (24%) indicated they’d received business promotion support from the network, whether by appearing in a business directory or participating in business promotion events. Just under one-fifth (18%) of small business owners had received support with financial opportunities, including grant opportunities and loan assistance. Smaller proportions of business owners received support with business networking and learning (14%), business operations (9%), or their business location (8%).
When considering prospects for future support, business owners expressed the greatest interest in financial opportunities (64%), business promotion (50%), business operations, including access to market data and assistance with e‑commerce or digital marketing (37%), business networking and learning (33%), and business location support (26%). Only 3% of respondents indicated that none of the listed types of support would be valuable to them or their businesses.
Recent national reporting indicates a “silver tsunami” of retiring business owners may be approaching the U.S. Although 26% of our survey respondents came from the Boomer Generation (born 1946 – 1964) or the Silent Generation (1925−1945), only 1% of responding small business owners had received support related to business succession. Fifteen percent said they saw this type of support as potentially valuable in the future. When exploring interest in assistance with business succession by respondent age, we find that 21% of older respondents born between 1925 and 1964 were interested in business succession assistance, compared to 13% of respondents born in 1965 or later.
Though we see clear evidence that the relationship between small business owners and local Main Street organizations is important to business success, we also find clear room for growth in support for small business owners from the Main Street network. Twenty-one percent of respondents said they had never received any support from the network, and 17% indicated that they didn’t have a relationship with a local Main Street organization at all.
© Main Street America
Conclusions
In the face of economic uncertainties, the small business owners responding to this survey still tout their strengths with pride. They strengthen and are strengthened by their communities, and many respondents reflected on the resilience they’d built in recent years. Still, rising costs, labor shortages, continuing challenges attracting and retaining customers, and difficulties finding affordable business spaces took their toll, reflected in the diminished business owner confidence in relation to our previous surveys over the past few years.
There is room for growth and to boost partnerships between business owners and Main Street leaders. Main Street America aims to continue supporting entrepreneurs not only through grant programs and business promotion, but through focused attention to the entrepreneurial ecosystems that germinate new businesses and continued successes, and by delivering market insights and analysis of emerging business trends, like AI. State, county, and citywide Main Street coordinating programs, alongside Main Street leaders in our cities and towns, are eager to step up and assist.
We will continue to engage these challenges and any other new difficulties that emerge for small business owners. Please follow our social media accounts and keep an eye on our email newsletters for additional small business resources, training, and outreach.
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Ottumwa, IA © Main Street Ottumwa
Shop Local Made Easy: Un resumen de recursos para líderes de Main Street y propietarios de pequeñas empresas
Tanto si ya es un veterano defensor del "Small Business Saturday" de American Express como si es un empresario que se une a este movimiento nacional por primera vez, hemos reunido una serie de recursos para apoyar sus esfuerzos de marketing de "comercio local".
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Apoyo a las mujeres empresarias en las calles principales
Hablamos con tres mujeres que recibieron subvenciones de Inclusive Backing para saber más sobre sus pasiones, sus negocios y sus consejos para otras mujeres.
Wixom, MI © Carissa Serylo
5 consejos para que el Small Business Saturday sea un éxito en 2022
Desde búsquedas del tesoro en las redes sociales hasta pasaportes para el centro de la ciudad, la red Main Street ha utilizado innumerables formas innovadoras de animar a sus comunidades a Shop Small®, y se ha divertido mucho haciéndolo.
Oceanside, CA © Road West Photography
Enfoque principal: Mujeres que lideran el cambio en la calle principal de Franklin, Michigan
Main Street Franklin es pionera en mostrar cómo las mujeres empresarias pueden ser una poderosa fuerza de cambio en sus comunidades.
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Old Algiers Main Street pone en marcha un proyecto piloto de formación de mano de obra
#EquityRising, el nuevo programa de formación laboral de Old Algiers Main Street Corporation, pretende combatir el aumento del coste de la vida ayudando a los residentes a formarse en carreras que les permitan permanecer en su barrio.
Nueva Orleans, LA © Calle Mayor de Old Algiers
Primer plano: Resultados del Censo Piloto de Pequeñas Empresas
Descubra cómo el proyecto piloto Small Business Census ha explorado los datos demográficos de las pequeñas empresas que viven en los distritos de Main Street.
Colville, WA © Colville Together
Enfoque principal: Apoyar los negocios negros en las calles principales
Hablamos con tres empresarios negros que recibieron subvenciones de Main Street America y American Express para comprender mejor sus retos, sus éxitos y los tipos de apoyo que más les han ayudado.
Camden, AR © Kimberly Moore Davis
Primer plano: Desarrollo local y futuro del comercio minorista con la OCDE
Dirigentes de Main Street y profesionales del desarrollo local de todo el mundo participaron en este interesante seminario web organizado por la OCDE.
Tulsa, OK © Kendall Whittier Main Street
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Hora del cuento para empresarios con Silver City MainStreet
Descubra cómo Silver City MainStreet utiliza Story Hours para conectar a los propietarios de negocios locales con la comunidad.
Silver City, NM © Silver City MainStreet
Comunidad destacada: Centro Skowhegan para la Iniciativa Empresarial
Main Street Skowhegan opened their new Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship, a downtown space for co-working, meeting, entrepreneurial support, trainings, and education.
Skowhegan, ME © Kristina Cannon
Primer plano: Ley de revitalización de las pequeñas empresas locales
Main Street America is proud to support the Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act
Lo más destacado: Resultados de la encuesta sobre pequeñas empresas de invierno de 2022
Main Street America's research team shares the results of the 2022 Small Business Survey.
© JENNIFER E. WOLF
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Fomento del espíritu empresarial en Wheeling (Virginia Occidental) y Emporia (Kansas)
Learn about Show of Hands, an entrepreneurial program in multiple Main Street communities.
Wheeling, WV © Wheeling Heritage
Tema destacado: 10 predicciones para 2022
Chief Program Officer Matt Wagner, Ph.D., shares his predictions for the trends affecting small businesses in 2022.
Consejos y trucos para que el Small Business Saturday sea un éxito en 2021
Is your Main Street ready for the biggest small business shopping day of the year?
La comunidad en el punto de mira: El concurso de decoración comercial"WonderFall" ilumina de otoño los negocios locales
Main Street Charles City organizes their annual 'WonderFall' event, a business decorating contest designed to have some fun with the autumnal season as well as provide a reminder of the importance of curb appeal in attracting the public’s attention.
Charles City, IA © Mark Wicks
Primer plano: Serie "Mejor planificación comunitaria y desarrollo económico" con Ed McMahon
Leverage NC, a partnership between North Carolina Main Street and the North Carolina League of Municipalities, hosted a four-part webinar series titled Better Community Planning & Economic Development led by Ed McMahon, Chair Emeritus of Main Street America and a leading national authority on land use policy and economic development.
La comunidad en el punto de mira: La Ruta del Café de Main Street Arkansas celebra la importancia de las cafeterías del centro de la ciudad
Main Street Arkansas has brewed a new engaging way for tourists and residents alike to explore local Arkansas commercial districts: the Main Street Arkansas Coffee Trail.
Little Rock, AR © Main Street Arkansas
Enfoque principal: Más allá del COVID: la mano de obra como próximo gran reto para las calles principales
Matt Wagner explores how Main Streets can navigate workforce concerns in the post-pandemic economy.
Mes Nacional de la Empresa Negra: The Four Way y L. May Creations
We spoke with two Black entrepreneurs in UrbanMain commercial districts: L. May Creations in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and The Four Way in south Memphis, Tennessee.
Memphis, TN © Four Way
Enfoque principal: Apoyo a las empresas propiedad de negros en Biddeford, Maine
Heart of Biddeford shares the strategies they developed to support Black-owned businesses in their community.
Biddeford, ME © Corazón de Biddeford
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Las calles principales adoran los mercados agrícolas
We heard from organizations across the nation about the incredible impact their markets have had on community engagement, entrepreneur and small business support, and keeping their district vibrant.
Hopewell, NM © Hopewell Downtown Partnership
Main Street: Un lugar para una economía más conectada en un mundo de dispersión
The global pandemic gave us all a glimpse of a further dispersed future – a time when you don’t sit in a classroom at school, watch movies in a theater, or even go to the grocery store. Where do Main Streets fit in that model?
Primer plano: Acostúmbrese: el pivote no va a desaparecer
The COVID-19 pandemic has long-lasting effects on the economy. Here are 11 changes that small business owners should continue to remain competitive.
Reflexiones sobre la historia, el legado y el futuro del Wall Street negro en Tulsa
This May marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. We explored the impact and legacy of this tragic event.
Tulsa, OK © Dr. Tiffany Crutcher
Destacado principal: Creación de una comunidad empresarial integradora en Fremont, California
Learn about the various programs and initiatives that Fremont is using to promote inclusive economic development.
Fremont, CA © Fremont Economic Development
Para una recuperación integradora, necesitamos apoyo para las pequeñas empresas y los grupos que las ayudan
BDOs are place-based organizations that help small businesses and entrepreneurs to flourish. They have been on the frontline of support for the country’s hardest-hit entrepreneurs throughout the pandemic and have been working to enable thriving commercial corridors throughout the crisis.
Destacado principal: Cinco consejos del Dr. Matthew Wagner para apoyar el espíritu empresarial
Matthew Wagner, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer at Main Street America, was featured on Breaking Down Barriers: a podcast from Startup Space highlighting stories of community leaders who break down barriers to entry for underserved and unrepresented entrepreneurs.
Foco principal: Ventanas de oportunidad - La transformación de los escaparates vacíos de Main Street
A vacant storefront is the perfect stage to creatively promote the available space or to showcase other businesses and events in the area.
El uso del comercio electrónico por parte de las pequeñas empresas sigue aumentando, mientras que los ingresos navideños fueron desiguales: Resultados de nuestra encuesta de enero de 2021 a propietarios de pequeñas empresas
We heard from 289 business owners in 35 states plus the District of Columbia in our new text message-based survey of small business owners across the network.
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Las tiendas del paseo marítimo de Batavia pasan de ser emergentes a permanentes
The Batavia Boardwalk Shops are freestanding, purpose-built structures acting as seasonal pop-up locations for entrepreneurs, offered in tandem with a business incubator program.
Batavia, IL © April Duda Photography
La empresa en el punto de mira: Empresarios negros que dan ejemplo en Chicago
For Black History Month, we want to recognize and celebrate the Black business owners and entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges and obstacles in launching and running their own businesses, thanks to resilience, creativity, and hard work.
Destacado principal: Pop-Up Retail: No sólo para nuevas empresas, y otras lecciones de su evolución
As a vital place factor within an entrepreneurship ecosystem, pop-up programs allow for emerging businesses to test their product, gain consumer feedback, and promote their brand at an extremely low cost. In essence, allowing for a ‘fail-fast’ product development cycle.
Asheville, NC © Ablohkin
Cómo afrontar la crisis del COVID en medio de la fiebre navideña: nueve conclusiones de nuestras encuestas de diciembre a propietarios de pequeñas empresas y programas de Main Street
In early December, as the COVID-19 crisis intersected with a peak moment in the holiday shopping season, we surveyed small business owners and Main Street programs to learn more about how they were managing.
© Cindy Shebley
Bájese del tren de la contratación de empresas: Los verdaderos beneficios están en cultivar el espíritu empresarial local
New research by Main Street America suggests greater returns on our missions and resources can be had by transitioning to more deliberate economic vitality work centered on cultivating new business development from within our own communities and neighborhoods.
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Activación de escaparates mediante la narración de cuentos en Fredericksburg, VA
Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street (FVMS) is taking storefront activation to a new level with their new initiative, the Scan & Love Project, which tells the stories of business owners through personal and engaging videos.
Fredericksburg, VA © Dan Craddock, Metro Nova Creative
Programa de subvenciones HartBeat of Main Street: Los hilos intemporales de Tina en el punto de mira
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
Programa de subvenciones HartBeat of Main Street: Centro del Hilo
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
HartBeat del Programa de Subvenciones Main Street: The Bankery en el punto de mira
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
HartBeat del Programa de Subvenciones Main Street: BuzzBomb Brewing en el punto de mira
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
HartBeat del Programa de Subvenciones Main Street: The Owl Wine Bar & Home Goods en el punto de mira
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
HartBeat del Programa de Subvenciones Main Street: Destacando Griff Goods
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
HartBeat del Programa de Subvenciones Main Street: Mockingbird Bar and Tacos en el punto de mira
Meet a recipient of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
La jardinería económica echa raíces: Rediseño del programa de retención empresarial Bricks & Clicks durante la pandemia
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance explores how they redesigned their Bricks & Clicks Business Retention Program during the pandemic.
Empresas destacadas: Empresas de mujeres en Main Street (Parte 3)
Meet some amazing women business owners!
Resultados de una nueva encuesta: Cómo gestionan las pequeñas empresas la pandemia y el malestar social
Read the results of our survey aimed at understanding how business owners are managing the recovery from COVID-19 and responding to recent protests and social unrest related to police violence against Black Americans.
La investigación en el punto de mira: Empresas propiedad de negros en Main Street y más allá
Our research team dug into some of the data about the state of Black-owned businesses on Main Street, the structural challenges they face, and how Main Streets can support them.
Tema destacado: Compras navideñas durante el COVID: ¿qué deben esperar las calles principales?
Matt Wagner explores how the pandemic may affect the shop small holiday weekend.
Tema destacado: Cómo pueden aprovechar las economías rurales el aumento del trabajo a distancia
COVID-19 has led to a rise in remote working. How can small and rural towns leverage this shift to create vibrant local economies?
El impacto de COVID-19 en las pequeñas empresas: Informe de la encuesta de seguimiento
Detailed findings from our follow-up survey on the impacts of COVID-19 on small businesses to better understand the continued challenges businesses face as the crisis evolves.
Primer plano: La recuperación y la revitalización dependen de la comprensión de la psique humana
How does psychology impact the recovery of our downtowns after the COVID-19 pandemic?
Impacto local: Sábado del Pequeño Comercio
Small Business Saturday® is more than a day to shop. It’s a nationwide movement that shines a spotlight on the importance of supporting small businesses in communities across America.
Comunidad destacada: Benson, Carolina del Norte
The Town of Benson started a special project to highlight their downtown businesses.
Comunidad destacada: Berkley, Michigan
The Berkley Downtown Development Authority (DDA) proudly debuted its Downtown Berkley Shopping Bag for a Cause through a partnership between Better Life Bags.
Primer plano: Conclusiones de la Cumbre ESHIP
Supporting new and existing small businesses, and the entrepreneurs who run them, represents a vital aspect of the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood business districts.
Crear ciudades equitativas, inclusivas y transparentes: Resumen del año
The Equitable Economic Development Fellowship is a two-year, one million-dollar effort funded by the Surdna Foundation and the Open Society Foundations to help equity, transparency, sustainability and community engagement become driving forces in local economic development efforts.
La comunidad en el punto de mira: Se ofrecen minibecas a las pequeñas empresas de Jefferson, Iowa
The Jefferson Rotary Club partnered with Jefferson Matters: Main Street to offer mini-grants for building facades and storefront signage to two dozen businesses for up to $500 each.
Un cambio de imagen memorable en Main Street
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) partnered with Retailworks, Inc., a commercial interior design, display and branding firm headquartered in Milwaukee, to launch Wisconsin’s Main Street Makeover Contest.
Descubrimiento creativo en la Ruta de los Creadores de Enid (Oklahoma)
Kelly Tompkins of Main Street Enid shares more about the Maker Trail project and how it inspired creativity and helped people discover downtown.
Las aceras de la ciudad se visten de fiesta
Too often, as we’re strolling our favorite Main Street, we pass empty or dark shop windows that make us want to hurry home a little bit faster. Imagine instead, a charming streetscape adorned with vibrant, lively window displays, showcasing retailers’ favorite products and seasonal gift ideas.
La comunidad en el punto de mira: #ShopSmall en Goldsboro, Carolina del Norte
Small Business Saturday promo pic from Downtown Goldsboro, North Carolina, showing all the folks who took the pledge support a small business in their community.
Cómo utilizar las tendencias de búsqueda local para atraer más clientes a su calle principal
We’ve put together a practical list of some of the things that local store owners can do right now to help them capitalize on this increasing trend in local searches.
La red en el punto de mira: Semana de los Restaurantes de Main Street Iowa
From authentic comfort food to farm-to-fork fresh and everything in between, these restaurants, bars, and cafes are key to the thriving social, business, and residential life in the historic commercial districts in Main Street Iowa communities.
El Fab Lab genera oportunidades rurales
Located in southeast Kansas, Independence (pop.8,799) is home to Fab Lab ICC, which is on track to be the world’s leading innovator in combining entrepreneurial mindset education with a fab lab maker space.
Comunidad destacada: Morganton, Carolina del Norte
The craft beer industry is playing a key role in the rebirth of Main Streets and neighborhood commercial districts across the county.
Repensar la accesibilidad de los escaparates para repensar la viabilidad de la comunidad
Appealing to mobility-challenged shoppers yields benefits beyond the store.
Desencadenar un movimiento en las pequeñas empresas y ciudades
Being the only person in the know can be fun, exhilarating even. Except when you are the one person out of 600+ in a room and you know bad news is coming.
Lo más bajo en el centro de LaBelle
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Altavista emergente 2.0
Altavista On Track, the local Main Street organization, is working to cultivate and sustain local entrepreneurs with an educational business launch competition, Pop-Up Altavista 2.0.
El Bright Center: Un espacio para que las mentes brillantes de Winchester creen, innoven y prosperen
In Winchester, Virginia, one woman’s vision and commitment to downtown’s revitalization created an innovative community space for the Creative Class.
Por qué los planes de retención y expansión empresarial son importantes para los centros urbanos
Un plan de retención y expansión empresarial, aplicado correctamente, no sólo ayuda a mantener abiertas las empresas, sino que posiblemente incluso les ayude a expandirse.
Guías de inversión empresarial: "Piensa en B.I.G."
La primera regla para hacer negocios es "hazlo sencillo". Cuanto más fácil sea pagar una mercancía, entretenerse u obtener un servicio, más probable será que la gente aproveche esas opciones.
Small Box - Un proyecto creativo de venta al por menor
Las comunidades de Main Street de todo el país no son ajenas a la búsqueda de estrategias creativas para resolver sus problemas más acuciantes: edificios vacíos, comercialización del centro, refuerzo del comercio minorista, por nombrar algunos.
Apoyo a los empresarios inmigrantes en el corazón de las calles principales de Boston
Para comprender el papel que desempeñan los empresarios inmigrantes en el ecosistema de la pequeña empresa de Boston, basta con pasear por cualquier distrito de Boston Main Streets.
Medición del impacto económico de las mejoras en los escaparates
La apariencia de las fachadas es un aspecto crítico del atractivo estético general y del carácter único del centro de la ciudad.
Directrices para el diseño de carteles
Para que un centro de ciudad funcione bien hacen falta muchos carteles, pero no todas las comunidades saben cómo es un buen sistema de señalización ni lo decisivo que puede ser para crear un centro de ciudad de éxito.
Mejorar el rendimiento de las comunidades de Main Street Iowa
Main Street Iowa, un programa del Iowa Downtown Resource Center de la Iowa Economic Development Authority, creó un programa único de tres años de duración para ayudar a los locales de espectáculos situados en los distritos de Main Street.
