How Poppi Uses Pop-Ups to Successfully Launch New Products

Google Co-Founder Larry Page Bought an Island in Puerto Rico. Here's How Rich You Have to Be to Do That

Are You Ready to Report? Most Business Aren't Prepared for the Corporate Transparency Act

How This Crypto Entrepreneur Pivoted to Helping Catch Financial Criminals

Amazon Could Soon Be Responsible for the Actions of Third-Party Vendors

Jack Altman Launches $150 Million VC Fund For 'Earliest-Stage Companies'

Target Just Made a Major Error With Its Black History Month Products

Entrepreneurs, take a bow. Among all U.S. institutions-including the military, religious organizations, K-12 schools, and colleges, Americans have the most positive view of small businesses, and the vote was not even close.

In a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 86 percent of people said small businesses have a positive effect on the way things are going in the country these days, up from 80 percent in October 2022. Only 12 percent of respondents believe small businesses have a negative impact. The survey also found a broad base of support for small businesses across party lines. Among Democrats, 88 percent said small businesses had a positive effect on the country's trajectory. In a rare moment of bipartisanship, 87 percent of Republicans agreed.

That net favorability rating of 74 percent is in sharp contrast to how Americans view large corporations, as well as financial institutions, which received overwhelmingly negative responses in the survey. The majority of both Republicans and Democrats disapprove of large corporations, which received 26 percent and 32 percent support, respectively. Over the past five years as President Donald Trump has continued to preach a more populist, working class version of Republican tenets, his party has soured on large corporations. Back in 2019, the majority of Republicans still had a positive view of big business.

When it comes to technology companies, in particular, Democrats have a slightier rosier view with 58 percent saying they have a positive impact on the country. That support has not budged much in the past five years, whereas Silicon Valley's relationship with the GOP has been on a bit of a roller coaster. In 2019, 58 percent of Republicans had a positive view of tech companies, in line with Democrats and Independents. Over the next two years, that approval rating plummeted to as low as 38 percent. Since then, the tech sector has recovered some of its standing with GOP voters, 49 percent of which now give the sector a positive mark.

After small businesses, the survey found that the next most positively viewed institutions were the military and religious organizations, which received support from about 60 percent of Americans. When asked about labor unions, whose membership is at a historic low of 10 percent of the workforce, 55 percent of respondents said they had a positive impact on the country. The Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan think tank conducted the national survey between January 16 and January 21, polling 5,140 adults.

Now accepting applications for Inc.’s Best Workplace awards. Apply by February 9 for your chance to be featured!

A refreshed look at leadership from the desk of CEO and chief content officer Stephanie Mehta