NEWSRELEASE
For Release: October 10, 2002
Contact:
Small Business E-Commerce Trends Accelerate
Smaller Niche Businesses Cover Web Site Costs With Revenues
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Small business continues to embrace Internet technology, and smaller niche businesses are covering their web site costs with increased revenues. These are just two of the trends in small business e-commerce cited in “E-Biz.com: Strategies for Small Business Success,” released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The report, authored by Joanne H. Pratt, documents current trends in small business e-commerce, and generates new statistics based on interviews conducted by the executive interviewing group of the Gallup Organization.
“The trend toward integration of the Internet into small business’ daily operations continues,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “This report shows how pervasive e-commerce has become, and how important it is to small business,” he continued.
The report outlines trends and strategies for success in e-commerce and details new findings. New findings include:
Sixty-five percent of small, niche firms make a profit or cover the costs of their websites.·
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Less than 10 percent of small businesses’ online commerce is business-to-business.·
The smallest firms (fewer than 10 employees) benefit the most from being online.“Leading edge entrepreneurs are demonstrating that the Internet offers unparalleled opportunities for small business by developing imaginative ways to conduct e-business,” said Joanne Pratt, author of the study. “As these trends accelerate so too will small business’ role in the virtual economy,” she said.
For more information and the complete report, visit the Office of Advocacy website at http://www.sba.gov/advo.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit http://www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.