Briana Pace | Southern Indiana Business Report
The Federal Reserve Bank’s Small Business Credit Survey is now open, offering owners and financial decision-makers the chance to share their experiences.
By taking the survey, small businesses have the opportunity to help shape decisions about credit programs, lending options and available resources.
“This is your chance to help influence decisions that can lead to better resources for your business and your community,” according to a statement from the Federal Reserve Bank’s Small Business Credit Survey.
The survey takes about 10-12 minutes to complete and is open to for-profit businesses in operation, recently closed or close to establishing; with less than 500 employees. It asks questions about business structure, profits, financial and operational challenges and financing types used within the last year.
Questions about business owner personal details and the eventual end goal of the establishment were also asked. Hypothetical questions about how the business would deal with financial loss were also in the survey, plus some about the use of AI.
Last year’s survey findings were divided into five categories: firm performance and challenges, international trade, debt and credit demand, financing applications and outcomes, and use of artificial intelligence
Based on the 6,525 responses across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., data indicated revenue and employment growth were stable between 2024 and 2025, but expectations for them in the future declined. Almost half of businesses said they source some inputs from outside the U.S. and majority said those prices increased from 2024 to 2025.
“Running a small business is tough, and getting funding can be even tougher,” a statement from the Federal Reserve Bank’s Small Business Credit Survey read. “Your experiences — good or bad — help the Fed and other organizations understand what’s actually happening on the ground.