NFIB

Internet Important Tool for Most Small Businesses, Study Finds
10/10/2002

In a study citing information from the NFIB Research Foundation, the Small Business Administration found that a majority of small businesses use the Internet and most of them are increasing their revenues because of it.

"The trend toward integration of the Internet into small business' daily operations continues," said Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan. "This report shows how pervasive e-commerce has become and how important it is to small business."

The study, "E-Biz.com--Strategies for Small Business Success," found that more than half of small firms use the Internet, and 61 percent of those have a Web site. Of that number, 67 percent gained new customers through their Web site and 56 percent increased their total sales.

The study also found that using Internet technology is a fairly new development for most small businesses. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed have only been online for a year or less, and 32 percent of businesses that weren't online expected to be within the next year.

To read the full report, visit:

www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs220tot.pdf