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Key Takeaways Intuit QuickBooks study finds nearly half of small businesses cite inflation and rising costs as top concerns, with 33% tapping into personal funds to manage expenses.
Small businesses are adapting by investing in sales, marketing and technology, with 57% anticipating revenue growth this quarter.
Strategic investments in market segmentation, digital transformation and proactive AI integration are key to driving efficiency and customer engagement.
For more than a year, financial pressures have dominated the small business landscape. Intuit QuickBooks research confirms that sticky inflation and rising costs continue to be the No. 1 concern for nearly half of all business owners, a trend that started in 2023. This climate of uncertainty has forced difficult decisions, with 33% using personal cash reserves to manage expenses.
But that’s only half the story. Despite these challenges, small businesses are revving up their efforts to drive growth by identifying opportunities to pivot to proactive investment strategies. And those strategies are working: 57% of small businesses expect revenue growth this quarter, and 44% are already seeing gains.
Small businesses are demonstrating confidence by moving from defense to offense. Nearly two-thirds plan to invest heavily in the months ahead to drive expected revenue growth. Their focus is targeted toward two core areas: boosting customer demand through sales and marketing and implementing new technologies to achieve greater operational efficiency.
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