Small Business Confidence

The Midwest hasn’t been known as being on the cutting edge or being the leading indicator. However, there are positive signs of stability and growth in our world that might be lagging elsewhere. (Maybe it’s the press that keeps some people looking at the glass as half-empty, and maybe there is just a fine line between optimism and pessimism.) A recent Wall Street Journal article on small business optimism reveals similar attitudes of small business owners around the country.

We are in a region of the country that is typically conservative in our financial and business investments, so seeing positive trends are a real boost to our confidence. Mid-westerners may still be a little cautious in hiring quickly, but case after case we are witnessing small and medium sized businesses that are showing a strong recovery and growing in the last couple of years.

This can translate to business owners now being able to sell their businesses for true value and retire with a decent savings. Banks are more assertive than they had been between 2009 and 2012. Assertive does not translate to aggressive, but they are definitely looking for places to put their money.

Talk to an Apex Business Advisor for an update on current activity and trends.