Business survey finds owners still fretting over economy

U.S. Bank's 2012 Small Business Annual Survey is showing more confidence in business owners, but only about the strength of their own corporations and not the economy as a whole.

More assurances for the future

For SMBs and larger companies, there's a general sentiment that private industry is turning around. This means bigger businesses reported brighter expectations for revenue, workforce and overall health. Smaller companies as well said they were seeing more freedom on the job and that improvements were allowing them to spend time with family and non-work endeavors without worrying about the welfare of the business.

Banking wariness

The Annual Survey revealed that owners are a bit trepidatious about banks still; some of the top concerns among small businesses is that financial institutions are hiding something from them as clients and that banks just don't know what's good for individual companies. Another leading concern is that money isn't willingly made available to business, hindering business loan applications and making owners feel less successful in the application process. If you're looking for a small business loan and want to deal with a variety of interested lenders at once, an online marketplace like Boefly can help you obtain that result.

A show of faith

Still, there has been minor improvement to the faith in the economy. One-third of owners feel their state is making a comeback since the recession, though overwhelmingly the same group thinks this negative economic climate will continue through next year.

"Business owners are creating ways to succeed, despite lingering concerns about the economy," said U.S. Bank's vice chairman of consumer and small business banking Rick Hartnack. "Prospects for growth are particularly strong…. Business is rebounding."