Survey of Small-Business Execs Reveals Rosy Outlook for 2000

With the American economy chugging along nicely, the majority of small businesses around the country expect their businesses to grow this year, according to a survey.

Nearly 70% of the 200 executives surveyed by Sage Software Inc., an Irvine-based accounting software firm, said they expect sales to increase in 2000. Only 4% said they thought business would decline, the study found.

“Small businesses are optimistic about the future, because the overall economy is good and customers are likely to buy,” Sage spokeswoman Jean Tung-Navarro said.

Entrepreneurial firms--those with 10 to 500 employees--are so optimistic that 15% said they are likely to go public this year. Another 22% said they are likely to sell their businesses, and more than half the firms said they would invest in sales and marketing to boost their bottom line.

Some dark clouds loom, though. With unemployment at a 30-year low, 44% of the companies said finding and retaining employees is the greatest barrier to growth.