Small Business Owners Optimistic According to NFIB Survey

 If you're a small business owner, this report probably puts a smile on your face. It looks like optimism is on the rise. In another report on the blog, we saw that medium-sized businesses are also becoming more optimistic globally, so this seems to fall in line with that broader trend.

We continue to talk about human capital on this blog, and you'll see that reflected in this report as well. According to the survey, human capital remains an issue that businesses can benefit from. Technology gives us an opportunity to help address some of those challenges, but it really depends on how we utilize that technology and what we choose to focus on.

Overall, though, this is good news. Rising optimism among small and medium-sized businesses is a positive sign and is in part associated with investment. If we find small business investment rising in the near future. If not then we can continue to explore why that hasn't happened. Time will answer all questions. 

New NFIB Survey: Small Business Optimism Continues to Rise

• The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 2.4 points in July to 99.8, moving above its 52-year historical average of 98.0 and reaching its highest level since August 2025.
• Hiring intentions improved significantly, with 20% of small business owners planning to create new jobs over the next three months. This was a 9-point increase from June and the strongest reading since October 2022.
• Labor remains a major challenge. Twenty-seven percent of owners identified labor quality or availability as their most important problem, while 36% reported job openings they could not fill.
• Businesses showed greater willingness to invest, with 25% planning capital expenditures during the next six months. This was a 5-point increase from June and the highest level since December 2024.
• Despite improving optimism, uncertainty remains elevated. The Uncertainty Index increased to 91, while concerns about inflation declined, with only 14% of owners identifying inflation as their most important problem.

National Federation of Independent Business. (2026, August 11). New NFIB survey: Small business optimism continues to rise. NFIB. https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/new-nfib-survey-small-business-optimism-continues-to-rise-11/