STUDY LOOKS AT MIGHTY MARKET OF TINY BUSINESSES
By Adnews Staff
A national survey is probing the buying needs and habits of Canadian micro-businesses. It is being done for ADitus, the sales and marketing arm of Toronto-based Southam Newspapers. The BBM Bureau of Broadcast Mesaurement's National Research division is conducting the study, which will be available in mid-January. Micro-businesses are defined as those employing less than five people. Respondents will be asked about their business activities, favored office products and services, information sources and needs. The study will also determine the number of dollars spent on telephone services, equipment, employee training, software and on-line information, as well as how these products and services are selected. In addition, the survey will estimate the total size of the micro-business market by checking the number of unregistered micro-businesses in operation. ADitus says little research has been done on micro-businesses, yet they make up the fastest growing business sector. According to Statistics Canada, there are over one million businesses in Canada with fewer than five employees. This is about 45% of all registered enterprises.