Intuit has released new data from its recent Small Business App Study, posing surprising revelations about how Canadian Small Business Owners (SBOs) operate. Specifically, the report states that more than half (55 per cent) run their business from a smartphone, with 20 per cent running them from a tablet. This is a significant difference from our American counterparts, where 43 per cent of SBOs are mobile-first in operation.
The report also tracks cloud adoption, noting that 31 per cent of Canadian SBOs are now cloud-enabled, up six per cent from last year. Small business owners operating primarily from brick and mortar locations have also dropped 20 per cent year over year, down to about one-third of Canada’s total small business owners. About one in three of Canadian SBOs now have an online presence and/or sell services online, up 28 per cent from 2014.
The report is also notable for the amount of money Canadian small business owners are willing to spend on software. On average, Canadian SBOs spend $1,000 per year on software, much higher than the U.S. average of $630. Eighty-five per cent of Canadian SBOs also plan to invest in software solutions in the next five years, with more than half expecting to pay up to $1,000. Interestingly, on average, Canadian SBOs are using just over three software solutions to run their business, indicating a relatively high cost per software.
Intuit Survey Methodology
2015 Small Business App Study
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– From July 16th to July 27rd, 2015, an online survey was conducted among 507 randomly selected Canadian small business owners who are members of the Angus Reid Forum panel or partnering networks. The total sample had a margin of error of +/- 4.38% 19 times out of 20.
– For the purpose of the survey, a “small business owner” was defined as those who are employed full-time/part-time/self-employed and own a business with up to 99 employees.
– Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
2014 Intuit Small Business Landscape Study
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– From August 12th to 18th 2014, Vision Critical surveyed 666 Canadian small business owners, comprised of a balanced sample of 500 small business owners. The total sample had a margin of error of +/-3.8%, 19 times out of 20.
– The sample was balanced according to census data on the number of employees and region within Canada. The data was weighted according to the same criteria.
– For the purpose of the survey, a “small business” was defined as a full-time business that employs up to 99 employees, including those with no employees.