Brother(R) Survey Reveals Small Business Owners Believe Stockpiling Cash Now is the Best Strategy for Survival

Most small business owners reveal plans to make their company more efficient this year

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Mar 02, 2010, 09:05 ET

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of small business owners (53 percent) believe that stockpiling cash is the best strategy for sustaining their business through the current economic climate, according to a survey released today by Brother International Corporation. The "Brother Small Business Survey" also found that most small business owners (79 percent) will strive to make their company more efficient this year.

"Small business owners are feeling extremely anxious about the economy and their business, so they are stockpiling their cash now to help guarantee they can survive the economic downturn and best position themselves for long-term success," said John Wandishin, senior director, product marketing and marketing communications, Brother International Corporation. "To help cut costs, small business owners are seeking ways to make their business more efficient and one way is through an investment in office supplies and equipment that are reliable and that will give them the best value for their money."

Efficiency is a key driver for small business owners in 2010. Seventy-nine percent of respondents said they plan to make their company – including employees, marketing budgets and workspace – more efficient.

"During this economic downturn, we find that more small business owners are interested in quality, value and efficiencies," said Small Business Professor® Bruce Freeman, author and columnist. "They want tools that will help them grow and sustain their business in the long-run, like Brother printers, which offer small and home office users outstanding value, quality and user-friendly features. In addition, tools such as P-Touch® labelers can organize work spaces and employees for greater productivity."

The survey also revealed the following key findings about small business owners' reaction to the current economic landscape:

Small business owners would consider taking drastic and desperate measures to keep hold of their company. In a striking example of the pressure still felt by many small business owners, 15 percent say they would give up 10 percent of their company in exchange for a guarantee that they'd be protected from negative economic effects in 2010.
The economy has taken a toll on small business owners' well-being. 51 percent of small business owners find that their stress level is at the highest it's ever been, or higher than usual, as a result of the economic climate. Close to half (48 percent) of small business owners think about their business while trying to fall asleep.
Despite the hardships, most small business owners enjoy owning their own business. In fact, 65 percent of small business owners believe they put in more hours than if they worked for someone else. However, 50 percent of small business owners enjoy the flexibility that comes with "being your own boss" and a third (35 percent) enjoy pursuing their passion.

About the Survey

The Brother Small Business Survey was conducted among 500 U.S. small business owners by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) between January 19h and January 27th, 2010 via telephone. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results.

In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Brother

Brother International Corporation is one of the premier providers of products for the home, home office and office. The U.S. corporate office in Bridgewater, N. J., was established on April 21, 1954 and currently markets many industrial products, home appliances and business products manufactured by its parent company, Brother Industries, Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan. These products include an award-winning line of Multi-Function Center® machines and printers. Brother also provides the number-one line of facsimile machines in the U.S. and is the leader in electronic labeling, with its full line of P-touch® Electronic Labeling Systems. For more information you can visit the Web site at www.brother.com.

NOTE: All trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective companies.

SOURCE Brother International Corporation