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American Express recently conducted a poll of 763 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. This is an anonymous telephone survey conducted between August 11 and August 25, 2009.

Click here to download:

American_Express_OPEN_Small_Business_Monitor.pdf (163 KB)

Here are some key findings:

• 55% are optimistic about near-term prospects. This is up from 45% in March, 2009.
• 63% do not think the worst is over.
• 23% have plans to hire people—the lowest level in the history of the report. The previous low was 26% in 2002.
• 60% are facing cash flow issues.
• More women than men have a positive outlook: 60% versus 50%.
• Businesses in the western part of the United States are the most optimistic.

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http://smallbusiness.alltop.com/