NSBA Releases Small-Business Technology Survey

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Oct 13, 2010, 01:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NSBA today unveiled the 2010 NSBA Small Business Technology Survey which provides a glimpse into how small businesses are using technology. According to the survey, despite the challenge posed by keeping up with the rapid pace of change in technology, 98 percent of respondents think it is important to keep up with new technology.

"Small-business owners have to serve many critical functions within their business, including chief technology officer," stated Todd McCracken, NSBA president and CEO. "This survey underscores the importance of affordable and user-friendly technology for small businesses."

When it comes to utilizing technology to streamline, make business more efficient and network, 86 percent of respondents report having a Web site for their business, while only 26 percent actually sell their products and services on-line. A large minority (47 percent) are using sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook for business networking purposes.

Sixty-nine percent said the biggest challenge they face with their own Web site is the time it takes to make updates, with the cost of maintaining the site a distant second at 39 percent. Nearly half of survey respondents (43 percent) report spending more than two hours per week addressing technology problems.

Another growing trend impacted by technology is the increase in telecommuting in the last several years. According to the 1997 Annual NSBA Survey of Small- and Mid-Sized Business, only nine percent of small businesses allowed telecommuting; ten years later in 2007 that number jumped to 19 percent. Today, 44 percent of small businesses allow their employees to telecommute.

"Small businesses look to technology as a critical tool to increase efficiency and grow business networks, which is particularly important now given the downturned economy," stated Larry Nannis, chair of NSBA and shareholder at Levine, Katz, Nannis + Solomon, PC.

The 2010 NSBA Small Business Technology Survey was conducted on-line among 200 small-business members of NSBA from across the country the last three weeks of August.

Please click here to view the full survey.

Since 1937, NSBA has advocated on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. A staunchly nonpartisan organization, NSBA reaches more than 150,000 small businesses nationwide and is proud to be the nation's first small-business advocacy organization. For more information, please visit www.nsba.biz.

SOURCE National Small Business Association