Report: Women Business Owners Outlook Summer 2011

From the report description:

The PNC Women Business Owners Outlook surveys women-owned businesses in PNC regions (Chicago, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania  ), as well as nationally, and is commissioned by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) This survey includes the results from nearly 1,300 business owners and senior decision-makers of small to mid-sized women-owned businesses.

The outlook survey is intended to gauge the mood and sentiment among women business owners about their own expectations, economic factors and other issues that impact the way they will run their business in the coming months.

Key Findings:

One out of two U.S. women business owners expect their sales to increase in the next six months, but most have no plans to hire full-time employees as a "soft patch" has slowed the U.S. economic recovery.

The findings of the first-ever PNC Women Business Owners Outlook show women owners are satisfied with their overall business performance, as six out of 10 say their companies are currently meeting or exceeding expectations. However, women owners show a reluctance to take on long-term financing or make capital investments in the months ahead.

Satisfied With Their Own Business, Owners Pessimistic About U.S. and Local Economies

Business is Good: Almost half (48 percent) expect their sales to increase compared to 42 percent in the fall. Nearly four in 10 (37 percent) expect profits to increase compared to 31 percent in the fall. One quarter (24 percent) expect to hire full-time employees, up slightly from the Fall (22 percent) and double the Spring 2009 low point (12 percent)

Sales and Profits: The sentiment about local economies is getting brighter, with 62 percent of owners optimistic about their local economies (compared to 57 percent in the Fall)