Small Business Trends & Research

The NFIB Research Center promotes greater understanding of small business and the conditions that impact it. The Center produces and disseminates various surveys and studies on small business, focusing on areas related to public policy’s effects.

Small Business Trends & Research

Small Business Economic Trends Survey (SBET)

SBET Report

The NFIB Research Center releases a Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) data on the second of Tuesday each month.

Jobs Report

A monthly SBET jobs report emphasizing the overall health and operation of the economy, including employment, labor costs, budgets, and more.

Quarterly Industry Report

A quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries.

SBET Report

The NFIB Research Center releases a Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) data on the second of Tuesday each month.

Jobs Report

A monthly SBET jobs report emphasizing the overall health and operation of the economy, including employment, labor costs, budgets, and more.

Quarterly Industry Report

A quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries.

View PDF

Additional NFIB Research Publications

Problems and Priorities

This is the eleventh edition of this publication. The volumes are among the…

This is the eleventh edition of this publication. The volumes are among the NFIB Research Foundation’s most popular publications and therefore have become a staple.

Small Business Tax Surveys

The 2024 NFIB Tax Survey assessed small business owners’ biggest tax chal…

The 2024 NFIB Tax Survey assessed small business owners’ biggest tax challenges, implications of potential changes to the tax code, and how tax policy impacts business operations.

Download Now

EY Tax Report

The EY (formerly Ernst & Young) macroeconomic analysis, released in con…

The EY (formerly Ernst & Young) macroeconomic analysis, released in conjunction with NFIB, measured the impact on small business of permanently extending the 20% Small Business Deduction.

View Report

2024 Small Businesses’ Contribution to the Community

This report provides insight into how and why small businesses contribute t…

This report provides insight into how and why small businesses contribute to their communities.

View PDF

NFIB Banking Survey Part I: May 2023

Small business banking is an essential component to business operations. Th…

Small business banking is an essential component to business operations. The ability to quickly access funds, make deposits, borrow, manage expenses, and seek advice are all part of the small business banking relationship. More recently, the financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a new level of small business ties with the banking system.

View PDF

NFIB Banking Survey Part II: August 2023

This report is a follow-up to the banking survey NFIB released in April 202…

This report is a follow-up to the banking survey NFIB released in April 2023, one month after the banking failures and one year into the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes. Small business owners were again asked about their financing activities and their experience in accessing credit. The health of the financial system is essential to sm all business operations, and this report offers insight into how well it is serving their small business clients.

Financing Sales Survey: December 2023

This report is the third report in the 2023 small business credit survey se…

This report is the third report in the 2023 small business credit survey series first published in April 2023 which was one month after the banking failures and one year into the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes.

View PDF

NFIB Small Business and Inflation

Small employers were asked a series of questions on how the current state o…

Small employers were asked a series of questions on how the current state of inflation is impacting their business. This survey was conducted from June 31 – July 7.

View PDF

The U.S. Debt and Debt Limit Explained

The current U.S. debt is about $31.5 trillion. The current U.S. debt limit,…

The current U.S. debt is about $31.5 trillion. The current U.S. debt limit, or the total amount the U.S. government is legally allowed to borrow to pay its bills, is 31.4 trillion. So, what is the U.S. debt, how long until the U.S. hits the debt cliff, how is that determined, and what exactly does that mean? Here are some answers.

View PDF

Small Business Health Insurance Survey

This survey offers data that is not otherwise widely available to better u…

This survey offers data that is not otherwise widely available to better understand this relationship and the challenges small business owners face when dealing with health insurance for themselves and their employees.

View PDF

Featured

Academic Sponsorships

See awards given by NFIB Research Foundation

View PDF

Bill Dunkelberg Forbes Articles

NFIB’s Chief Economist offers expert advice on small business practices o…

NFIB’s Chief Economist offers expert advice on small business practices on Forbes.

View PDF

NFIB Research’s Monthly Newsletter

January 2025

Small business optimism expands on an improved economic outlook post-election. The
Optimism Index rose by 3.4 points in December to 105.1, the second consecutive month
above the 51-year average of 98. This is the highest reading since October 2018. Of the 10
Optimism Index components, seven increased, two decreased, and one was unchanged.
The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points to 86, as business owners became more certain
about economic policies following the election.

VIEW PDF

News Analysis

See All

February 13, 2025

ICYMI: Iowa Small Business Owner Marcie Strouse Testifies Befor…

NFIB Iowa Member spoke on solutions to address rising health care costs in…

February 13, 2025

ICYMI: Small Business Owner Marcie Strouse Testifies Before U.S…

February 11, 2025

NFIB Key Votes Senate Action on Bill Affecting Health Insurance…

SB 24 would help small businesses continue providing health benefits to the…

February 3, 2025

NFIB Supports Bills to Promote Transparency & Accounta…

Bills would create a much-needed process to estimate how proposed legislati…