New Survey Shows More Small Businesses Exporting
More small businesses are exporting now compared to three years ago, according to a study released June 13 by the National Small Business Association (NSBA) and its international trade arm the Small Business Exporters Association (SBEA). The study also indicated an increased portion of non-exporters, from 43 percent in 2010 to 63 percent today, expressed interest in exporting their goods or services.
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The 2013 Small Business Exporting Survey also showed a decrease in exporters who said a lack of goods or services to export was their main barrier to global sales. Today, the main barrier is a lack of information and confusion of where to start, the survey said. Almost half of small business exporters also face the challenge of spending a few months and an average of 8.4 percent of their annual operating revenue towards preparation. But attitudes towards exportation are still becoming more positive despite these big investments.
“Not only are small businesses seeing growing opportunities available to them via exporting, they increasingly view their goods and/or services as valuable in a global marketplace,” said David Ickert, NSBA Chair and former SBEA Chair.