Small Business Surveys That Drive Advocacy

NSBA surveys turn small-business experiences into data policymakers can use. Share your perspective, explore the latest findings, and see how NSBA uses survey insights to advocate for America’s small-business community.

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Share Your Experience with Energy Costs

NSBA’s current survey is focused on how energy costs and related challenges are impacting small businesses. Your input helps NSBA better understand what business owners are facing and strengthens its ability to advocate on behalf of small businesses nationwide.

Why Surveys Matter

Small-business owners are closest to the issues affecting their companies, employees, and communities. NSBA surveys help turn those firsthand experiences into credible data.

  • NSBA data provides critical insight to lawmakers on small business
  • Our surveys get cited regularly in the media
  • NSBA research informs letters, testimony and regulatory comments
  • Research and reporting on small-business needs is important in partnering with larger companies
  • NSBA’s Economic Reports have been conducted since 1993, providing critical long-term trending data.
  • NSBA’s Economic Reports have been conducted since 1993, providing critical long-term trending data.

How Survey Data Supports Advocacy

NSBA uses survey findings to elevate the challenges small businesses are facing and connect those findings to policy conversations. Recent NSBA surveys have highlighted issues such as economic uncertainty, tax complexity, regulatory burden, tariffs, financing, and hiring.

  • Adds evidence behind NSBA’s policy priorities
  • Shows how national issues affect small businesses on the ground
  • Gives small-business owners a stronger voice in Washington
  • Helps NSBA communicate urgent needs through reports, press, and advocacy efforts

How to Participate in NSBA Surveys

NSBA periodically opens surveys to gather input from small-business owners and leaders across industries. When a survey is available, participation is quick, direct, and helps NSBA better understand the issues affecting small businesses nationwide.

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Check this page for the current survey.

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Share your perspective on the issues affecting your business.

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Explore results to see how small-business feedback informs NSBA’s advocacy.

View 2026 Economic Report

OutlookEach year, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) conducts a comprehensive survey of small businesses across the country to provide critical data on how the small-business community in the U.S. is faring. Now in its 20th year, the NSBA Small Business Economic Report has been broadly cited on key indicators including economic outlook, business confidence, growth, hiring, financing, policy and a host of other key indicators. Each year we focus on a particular issue facing America’s small-business community, and this year we focused on federal trade policy.

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Past Survey Results

Read the latest NSBA survey findings, reports, and updates on the issues shaping America’s small-business community.

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Economic Development

SURVEY | 2020 Politics of Small Business

The 2020 Politics of Small Business Survey showed small-business owners’ political allegiances deepening, mirroring our nation’s growing political divide. Download this report to learn more.

Economic Development

SURVEY | Business Planning & Digital Utilization

Small Businesses are working in different ways, relying more and more on digital connections and working to ensure their business can survive another major disruption.

Economic Development

SURVEY | Politics of Small Business 2022

Every two years, prior to a national election, NSBA publishes its Politics of Small Business Survey. This year, as in past years, we found that small-business owners continue to be extremely engaged. Download this report to learn more.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2023 Economic Report

With 86 percent of small businesses anticipating either a flat or recessionary economy today, the highest this indicator has been since 2011 at the height of the great recession, it is clear there is a true need for policy changes affecting the nation's small-business community.

Economic Development

SURVEY | Banking & Lending Security Poll

In light of the recent Silicon Valley Bank collapse, NSBA polled its small-business community on its banking needs and challenges.

Economic Development

SURVEY | Noncompete & Nondisclosure Agreements

A moratorium on noncompete/nondisclosure agreements may be causing more grief than good for small-business owners nationwide.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2022 Small Business Exporting Report

How small firms do business globally.

ERA

SURVEY | 2017 Small Business Regulations Report

Among the most compelling data in the survey, we found that the average small-business owner is spending at least $12,000 every year on regulations, and nearly one-in-three spends more than 80 hours each year dealing with federal regulation.

ERA

SURVEY | 2016 Year-End Economic Report

When it comes to confidence in their own business, the findings showed positive gains, however not quite to the level as the positive gains in overall economic outlook.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2018 Workforce and Hiring Report

For this report, NSBA partnered with ZipRecruiter, the fastest-growing online employment marketplace, connecting millions of small- and mid-sized business owners with job seekers through innovative mobile, web, and email services.

Taxation

SURVEY | 2018 Small-Business Taxation Report

No surprises: Payroll taxes and income taxes were ranked the top two most burdensome taxes for small businesses.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2018 Mid-Year Economic Report

According to NSBA data from as far back as 1993, there is a clear correlation to a small-business owner’s ability to hire and his/her ability to get financing.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2020 Small-Business COIVD Relief Response

This survey was conducted online among more than 980 small-business owners from April 15-18.

Economic Development

SURVEY | COVID 19 and the Path Forward with Small Business

NSBA has conducted its third COVID-19-related survey with the goal of providing the real-world implications of the pandemic and economic downturn and its likely long-term effects. This survey was taken among 630 small-business owners June 16-23.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2021 Small-Business Recovery and Technology Report

Our report found that, although small business is continuing to fight back from the pandemic, confidence and economic outlook remain much lower than pre-pandemic levels.

ERA

SURVEY | The CTA - What It Means for Small Business

Among the key data: the average small-business owner is looking at compliance costs for CTA of nearly $8,000 - in the first year alone.

Taxation

SURVEY | 2024 Taxation and Small Business

It is imperative Small Businesses are afforded tax stability, predictability, and permanency, not to mention parity, with larger entities.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2025 Small Business Economic Report

Uncertainty and growing lack of confidence in economic outlook for Small-Business owners according to insights from NSBA's latest Economic Survey data.

Economic Development

SURVEY | AI Adoption Trends and Strategic Insights

NSBA remains dedicated to supporting small business as AI and technology continue to reshape realities for America's most important economic community. Published in partnership with Reimagine Main Street and Public Private Strategies Institute.

Economic Development

SURVEY | 2025 Small Business Regulations

NSBA is privileged to help lead small-business owners through regulatory complexity and reshape policy to improve growth and job creation, and we look forward to driving more with our survey insights.

Economic Development

NSBA Survey Shows Government Shutdown Disservice to Small Business

Shutdowns harm small business - insights from NSBA's latest survey prove it.

Economic Development

Results: 2026 Economic Outlook

Each year, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) conducts a comprehensive survey of small businesses across the country to provide critical data on how the small-business community in the U.S. is faring. Now in its 20th year, the NSBA Small Business Economic Report has been broadly cited on key indicators including economic outlook, business confidence, growth, hiring, financing, policy and a host of other key indicators. Each year we focus on a particular issue facing America’s small-business community, and this year we focused on federal trade policy. ​​

Economic Development

Results: NSBA Survey Shows Uncertainty Stagnating Small Business Growth

Uncertainty is stagnating growth and potential of the nation's most important economic community, according to our 2026 Economic Survey results.