The past four years have been marked by a uniquely challenging set of circumstances for small business owners — a once-in-a-generation pandemic, supply chain headaches, high (though somewhat dwindling) inflation and increasing labor costs, among other setbacks.

In the run-up to the consequential 2024 presidential election, Entrepreneur wanted to know how small business owners feel about topics ranging from the economy, to hiring, to stress and sleep habits. So, in partnership with Talker Research, we surveyed 500 small business owners to get some answers. We'll dive into the full results below, but first, the good news: Half (51%) of small business owners report that their business is doing better compared to 2023, and 84% are optimistic that 2025 will be better for business than 2024.

Related: Small Business Owners Are Taking 3 Creative Actions to Achieve Their Goals in 2024, According to a New Report

In general, small business owners across the country feel optimistic about their businesses' prospects — with the most optimistic business owners located in the Northeast (56%) and Midwest (54%).

Two in........

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