Looking for job? Selling a service? Here’s where I would go.

I saw this referenced in the Houston Business Journal, but the University of Maryland and Network Solutions have developed a small business index and their most recent survey of businesses indicated:

• Small businesses are succeeding:
  • 69% of small businesses made a profit in 2008
  • 7% of small businesses report that they broke even
  • Of  those who showed a profit in 2008, 69% said it was equal to or better than 2007
  • 70% of small businesses expect to be in business in 5 years;  of these, 66% expect to be bigger in size
• Small businesses remain optimistic:
  • 23% of small businesses believe the economy will improve in 2009
  • 26% of small businesses believe it will remain unchanged in 2009
  • 48% of small businesses expect a decline in 2009
• Small business owners are still investing in their companies:
  • 25% plan to increase their overall business spending
  • 42% plan to spend the same
  • 23% plan to increase spending on professional development of employees
  • 26% plan to increase their internet marketing budgets, including online advertising and website development

The survey was a nationwide phone survey of 1,000 small business conducted between Dec 2008 and Jan 2009.  The full results can be found here.  The website also has a lot of videos and other resources for small business.