JupiterResearch Says 82 Percent of Small Businesses Will Be Online by 2011

WebKnowHow
Monday, November 20, 2006; 06:44 AM

JupiterResearch reported that 78 percent, or almost 20 million small businesses, currently use the Internet on a regular basis. According to a new JupiterResearch report, “Market Profile: Understanding Online Small Businesses,” 82 percent of small businesses will have Internet access by 2011, of which 88 percent will utilize broadband connections.

“Small businesses spent over $43 billion in 2005 in business purchases online,” said Sonal Gandhi, JupiterResearch Analyst and lead author of the report. “Their online influenced off-line spending is likely to be considerably higher.”

JupiterResearch defines online small businesses as companies with less than 100 employees and where the decision makers access the Internet on a regular basis regardless of location. Ninety percent of online small businesses have less than five employees and they account for half of all small business online spending.

“The growth of the overall online small business market and decision makers’ increased comfort with doing business online will impact their total online spending,” said David Schatsky, President of JupiterKagan. “Companies that target small businesses should take advantage of the size and openness of this market online.”

The complete findings of this report are immediately available to JupiterResearch clients online at www.jupiterresearch.com. For details on JupiterResearch's methodology visit www.jupiterresearch.com/bin/item.pl/methodology.

JupiterResearch provides research, analysis and advice, backed by proprietary data, to help companies profit from the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on their business. The company helps online businesses make critical decisions about technology selection, spending, staffing, and Web site effectiveness; advises consumer-facing companies with online advertising, marketing, and customer service strategies to understand, attract, convert and retain customers; and guides technology vendors and service providers on market opportunity, positioning, product definition, and pricing. JupiterResearch is headquartered in New York City and has offices throughout the US and Europe.