Live Oak BusinessPulse 

Insight and Analysis of Small Business Sentiment and Economic Trends

The BusinessPulse provides detailed analysis and reporting on small business sentiment, including economic position, economic confidence, and credit outlook for small and middle market companies. Take a deep dive into the Q1 data and discover how businesses feel about their past performance and what they expect in the next 12 months.

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Dedicated to the Doers®

Small business is the backbone of our country. It drives jobs, creates prosperity and boosts local economies. We’re proud to contribute to that growth by investing in America’s small business owners. When you bank with Live Oak, you can be proud too.

key takeaways

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Small Businesses Faced A Challenging 2023

Small business owners faced deflated sales, little capital spending, and limited cash reserves throughout 2023.

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Increased Capital Spending 

Small businesses expect increased sales and profits, leading to more capital spending and optimism for 2024.

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Credit Demand Is Increasing

Demand for additional credit increased for a second consecutive quarter. However, more small businesses were denied or haven’t applied for additional credit because they expect to be denied.

Source: Live Oak Q1 2024 BusinessPulse Survey Results (Powered by Barlow Research)

About Barlow Research

Barlow Research surveys more than 2,800 companies annually across the U.S. to gather current viewpoints and draws on years of data to provide in-depth research on economic trends to the commercial banking sector. Barlow has a long-standing relationship with Live Oak Bank, primarily through powering the BusinessPulse. In addition, Barlow Research has provided industry analysis for vertical selection, competitive intelligence on the digital account opening and lending processes. Live Oak Bank is also a member of Barlow Research’s flagship Small Business Banking program. 

Joel Mueller
Managing Partner & Research Director
jmueller@barlowresearch.com | 763.253.1806
Barlow Research Associates, Inc.
917 Lilac Drive North, Minneapolis, MN 55422