Northeast Ohio Small Business Confidence Trumps National Peers

CLEVELAND, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Small business owners in Northeast Ohio are more optimistic and see more opportunity ahead for growth than their counterparts around Ohio and the nation.  That's according to a recent survey of nearly 1,000 small businesses in the Cleveland area by the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).

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COSE has released its quarterly Small Business Monitor survey that tracks trends, economic indicators and opinions of some of its 14,000-plus small business members.  The survey is conducted quarterly and is sponsored by FirstMerit Bank.

A snapshot of findings includes:

• 28% report growth in 2013 compared to only 15% across the nation
• 50% expect growth in 2013 compared to just 43% nationwide
• 56% have customers beyond their local market compared to just 31% nationwide
• Northeast Ohio small businesses are reporting higher profits than their peers elsewhere

COSE's full report on the survey's findings can be found at www.cose.org/SBMsurvey. 

About COSE
COSE is one of Ohio's largest small business support organization, striving to help small businesses grow and maintain their independence. Comprised of more than 14,000 member companies, COSE has a long history of fighting for the rights of all small business owners, whether it's through group purchasing programs for health care, workers' compensation, or energy, advocating for specific changes in legislation or regulation to benefit small business, or providing a forum and resource for small businesses to connect with and learn from each other. (www.cose.org)

SOURCE Council of Smaller Enterprises