Rural small businesses seek talent and technology to succeed in the digital age

Washington, September 27 February 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Rural entrepreneurs are struggling to gain access to capital, high-speed internet and quality workers, according to new survey data from SCORE, Small Business Mentor of America, and Small Business Administration Resource Partners.

SCORE Fall 2022 Loudspeakers on the Main Street: Small Business’s Rural/Urban Divide The survey of more than 3,000 entrepreneurs found that the population shift from rural areas presents challenges for small business owners who are in desperate need of reliable talent and technology. Specifically:

Rural business owners reported higher expenses and fewer customers than non-rural business owners.

Rising fuel costs (49.3%), slowing customer spending (48.6%), tight marketing budgets (47.6%) and a limited local customer base (34.6%) are their toughest customer-related challenges.

Rural businesses are hurting workers and are 26 percent more likely to have difficulty finding qualified workers.

Rural entrepreneurs (19.2%) are twice as likely as non-rural entrepreneurs (9%) to experience difficulties with broadband/high-speed internet access, making it harder for them to do business, reach customers and grow.

The technology gap between rural and non-rural enterprises persists.

Rural entrepreneurs are twice as likely to cite lack of broadband/high-speed internet access as a technical challenge than non-rural entrepreneurs (19.2% vs. 9%). Small businesses in both rural and non-rural areas say they are challenged by a lack of technical knowledge or assistance.

“As a small business owner in a rural area Erie County exist Western New Yorkover the past decade—and even more so now—attracting employees has been a challenge because it’s at least a 30-minute drive from Buffalo and surrounding suburbs,” said Kerry Planck or Alpine Made LLC at South Wales, New York “My most recent long-term employee who lived 30+ miles away recently quit, in part because of long commutes and high gas prices. I usually give my employees a six-month pay rise, but they haven’t kept up with current inflation Level. “

Planck worked with SCORE mentors David Bounes 10 years, most recently on staff retention. “SCORE suggested that I partner with a local university to recruit paid interns,” Plank said. “It has helped me a lot over the past two years.”

SCORE provides practical solutions for rural entrepreneurs.

To address the challenges of rural small businesses, SCORE offers a centralized resource center, SCORE for Rural Entrepreneurs. “Starting and growing a successful small business in rural America can be more difficult, but it can also have a greater impact,” said SCORE’s vice president of external relations. Bessie Docter“When rural small businesses thrive, that success spills over to rural towns and communities, injecting new jobs, innovation and productivity into rural towns and communities.”

To learn more, download the full Loudspeakers on the Main Street: Small Business’s Rural/Urban Divide data reports and infographics, Part 2: Hungry for talent and technology.

About the score:
Since 1964, SCORE has helped 11 million entrepreneurs start or grow their businesses. SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers provide free mentoring, workshops and educational services to more than 1,500 communities across the country, creating 25,084 new businesses and 71,475 non-owner jobs in 2021 alone. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Follow @SCOREMentors on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Part of the funding comes from a partnership agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

touch:
Megan Dooley
Fraction
202-968-6428
[email protected]

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