Small Business Trends

Whatever comes to mind from the panel or from you we're discussing!

?? ?? Bluevine's 2024 End-of-Year Business Owner Success Survey (BOSS) Report reveals that small business owners are entering 2025 with growing confidence, despite ongoing economic pressures. The survey, which included 1,200 small business owners, found that 79% are optimistic about their business outlook, up from 73% earlier in the year. Business owners expect increased profitability and revenue growth, showing resilience in the face of inflation, rising costs, and tariffs. While payroll and material costs remain the largest expenses, two-thirds of owners have raised prices to cope. Access to capital continues to be crucial, with many seeking funding for expansion. Despite challenges, small business owners are committed to long-term growth and success. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gmsbiYve #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #EconomicChallenges #Inflation #BusinessConfidence #BOSSReport #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwners #RevenueGrowth #AccessToCapital #PricingStrategies #Payroll #MaterialCosts #DebtRestructuring #FinancialPlanning

?? The National Small Business Association’s 2025 Small Business Taxation Survey highlights significant concerns about federal tax laws, especially with the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Many small business owners fear tax increases, as 83% of businesses are structured as pass-through entities. The survey also reveals that small business owners spend over 20 hours annually on tax compliance, with 90% stating that federal taxes impact their operations. The complexity of tax administration, rather than its financial cost, is the biggest burden. With the expiration of key tax provisions like the 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction, the NSBA urges Congress to prioritize tax stability and relief for small businesses. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g87GqEdp https://lnkd.in/dwB4AvEx #SmallBusinessTax #TaxChallenges #NSBASurvey #TaxCuts #TaxRelief #TaxCompliance #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTaxes #IRS #PassThroughEntities #TaxPolicy #BusinessGrowth #Taxation #TaxDeduction #SmallBusinessIssues

?? Microsoft has announced that Skype will be retired in May 2025, with a shift toward Microsoft Teams as its primary communication platform. This move aims to consolidate consumer communication services into one platform. Skype users can migrate to Teams for free, with their contacts and chats transferring automatically. Teams offers similar features to Skype, such as messaging and calls, but also includes enhanced collaboration tools like meeting hosting and calendar management. Users have until May 5, 2025, to transition or export their data. Paid Skype services will be discontinued for new customers, though existing users can continue using them until renewal. Microsoft encourages users to begin transitioning early, providing a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth move to Teams. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gM-MtTBk https://lnkd.in/gssqgW29 #MicrosoftTeams #SkypeRetirement #DigitalTransition #CommunicationTools #TechUpdates #Microsoft #BusinessCommunication #CollaborationTools #SkypeToTeams #TechMigration #SmallBusinessTech #TeamsForBusiness #CommunicationPlatform #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork

?? ?? Zoho Corporation has launched Projects Plus, an AI-driven project management platform designed to boost collaboration and efficiency for mid-sized and enterprise businesses. The platform integrates four key Zoho applications—Projects, WorkDrive, Analytics, and Sprints—allowing businesses to streamline workflows and make data-driven decisions. With a 20% revenue increase in 2024, Zoho Projects has seen a rise in users migrating from tools like Microsoft Projects and JIRA. Projects Plus offers features like predictive analysis, real-time dashboards, quality control analytics, and AI automation through Zia. Early adopters have reported improved team coordination and project visibility, showing the potential of AI to transform project management. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gG-a2kxj https://lnkd.in/egtT2rJm #ZohoProjectsPlus #AIProjectManagement #BusinessEfficiency #Zoho #CollaborationTools #ProjectManagement #AIinBusiness #DataDrivenDecisions #WorkplaceAutomation #ZohoSprints #EnterpriseSoftware #ProjectVisibility #PredictiveAnalytics #TeamCoordination #WorkDrive

?? Zoho’s new Notebook AI is a powerful tool designed to help small business owners stay organized and improve productivity. Going beyond basic note-taking, it offers advanced features like email drafting, proposal creation, and idea brainstorming, with real-time smart suggestions. Powered by Zoho Writer’s BluePencil, it also provides grammar insights for clearer communication. Notebook AI enhances efficiency with translation capabilities, accurate transcriptions, and automatic organization of meeting notes. It can automate routine tasks like generating reports and checklists, saving valuable time. With a 15-day free trial and affordable pricing, Zoho Notebook AI is a valuable tool to streamline operations and keep small business owners on track. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gJHfgSy8 #Zoho #ZohoNotebookAI #ProductivityTools #SmallBusinessTech #NoteTaking #AIinBusiness #BusinessOrganization #ContentCreation #AutomationTools #TaskManagement #MeetingTranscription #AIforBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Zoho #EfficiencyTools #SmallBusinessOwner

This should be an interesting one for The Crew (aka Ivana, John, Leland, Ramon, Shashi and Brent) to tackle....and an interesting for you to tackle too!

?? Zoho Corporation’s new study, “Trends in Digital Workplace Transformation,” reveals that many U.S. businesses are falling behind in digital adoption and facing growing security challenges. Surveying 4,900 employees, the study found that 39% of U.S. businesses are still in the early stages of digital transformation, with weak security measures and inefficient processes. Only 15% of employees felt their workplace tools met expectations, and 85% of companies still rely on manual task delegation, reducing productivity. Security concerns are also significant, with only 50% using secure access methods and many employees lacking cybersecurity training. To improve, Zoho recommends businesses integrate digital tools, automate workflows, and strengthen security measures. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eQD3DpEn #Zoho #DigitalTransformation #BusinessSecurity #Cybersecurity #EmployeeProductivity #Automation #DigitalTools #WorkplaceEfficiency #SmallBusinessChallenges #ZohoStudy #RemoteWorkSecurity #BusinessInnovation #TechAdoption #SecurityMeasures #ManualProcesses #WorkplaceTools

?? ??Small business acquisitions in the U.S. rose by 5% in 2024, totaling 9,546 transactions worth $7.59 billion, a 15% increase in value compared to 2023. Despite three Federal Reserve rate cuts, 60% of buyers reported no change in their timelines. Manufacturing, technology, and construction sectors saw significant growth, with tech acquisitions soaring by 74%. The median sale price increased by 3%, and deals closed faster with a drop in market days. However, concerns about rising costs due to tariff impacts and inflation continue to affect businesses. Service, retail, and restaurant sectors saw stable sales, while private equity showed interest in niche industries. Creative financing, such as seller financing, may play a larger role in 2025 as financing challenges persist. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g8YNWYNk https://lnkd.in/dwRYf4h #SmallBusinessAcquisitions #BusinessSales #EconomicGrowth #Manufacturing #Technology #Construction #BusinessTrends #PrivateEquity #FinancingChallenges #Inflation #BusinessOwnership #RecessionResistant #SellerFinancing #BusinessGrowth #MarketTrends

?? The Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January 2025 caused significant disruptions to the Los Angeles job market, with paychecks in affected areas dropping by 10% in the first week and continuing to decline in the following weeks. ADP payroll data reveals a 6% decrease between January 12-18 and another 10% between January 19-25, with payroll activity returning to normal by January 26. Manufacturing, trade, transportation, utilities, and healthcare were particularly hard-hit, while leisure and hospitality saw a slight increase in hours worked. The fires' long-term impact includes potential increases in rental costs and longer commutes for displaced residents. ADP’s report stresses the need for strategic rebuilding to improve resilience, fire-resistant construction, and high-density development to support the local economy. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gdaqiekH https://lnkd.in/gg94pu8C #WildfireImpact #JobMarket #LosAngeles #PayrollData #EconomicResilience #ADPReport #WorkforceDisruptions #WildfireRecovery #DisasterRecovery #LocalEconomy