Tag: 3BL

Storms, fires and floods hit communities every year. When they do, staying connected becomes a lifeline. In just the first half of 2025, the U.S. saw 14 separate billion-dollar disasters — with several more since.

At T-Mobile, keeping people connected in those moments is a responsibility we take personally. Our engineers and emergency teams work around the clock to prepare, innovate and restore service so people can call 911, reach loved ones and receive emergency alerts, including satellite-to-mobile messaging. T-Mobile For Business introduced solutions like T-Priority for first responders and SuperMobile for customers like FOX Weather and CNN to inform communities in real time.

As CNET recently noted, our commitment to public safety has never been stronger, and it guides everything we do.

A Year of Relentless Weather — and Relentless Response

This year brought one major event after another: Winter Storms Blair and Cora, devastating Texas floods, severe Midwest storms, fast-moving California wildfires and, most recently, the terrible floods here in Washington state. Each one put pressure on our network and our teams. And each time, T-Mobile responded quickly and confidently.

We deployed mobile cell sites, generators and drones, while T-Priority gave first responders on our network a dedicated 5G network slice so their calls and data got the highest priority even under the heaviest congestion. In California, where wildfires continue to intensify, T-Satellite with Starlink proved to be essential. When towers were damaged or commercial power failed, we turned on T-Satellite, ahead of launch, so people with compatible phones could still text 911 and loved ones, showing how vital satellite connectivity has become.

The Technology Behind the Response

Strong disaster response doesn’t happen only in the moment. It comes from years of innovation and investment, and from teams who are constantly improving how we support customers and first responders.

Our Self-Organizing Network (SON), powered by advanced AI and automation, continuously monitors and adjusts the network. If a tower goes down, the SON can tilt antennas, reroute traffic and fill temporary coverage gaps so the maximum amount of customers remain connected. During this year’s weather events, it made nearly 5 million network adjustments that kept families and public safety agencies connected.

T-Priority, running on our nationwide 5G Standalone core, gives first responders on our network our highest level of network priority with up to five times the resources of typical users. Agencies like the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department used it during this year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix to keep their communications strong and fans safe.

And when traditional coverage is impacted during severe events, T-Satellite is a game-changer. It has already supported more than a million messages during disasters, including the Texas floods, Los Angeles fires and Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In November, we added T-Mobile Text to 911 via satellite at no extra cost for anyone who signs up with a compatible device, regardless of their primary wireless provider. It’s another step toward making lifesaving communication universal. And as the first-ever satellite-to-cell network to enable authorities to broadcast Wireless Emergency Alerts, we are giving first responders new tools to reach and protect more people, regardless of their wireless provider.

Preparing All Year, Not Just During Crisis

As I mentioned to CNET, our goal is to make sure the network never goes down because if it does, we are letting someone down. With that in mind, our dedication and fast response starts long before a storm appears on radar. This year, we expanded our drone fleet by 50%, adding heavy-lift, search-and-rescue and tethered drones. They map damage, locate people with thermal imaging and LiDAR, deliver gear and even broadcast temporary Standalone 5G across a 2-mile radius. These drones supported Texas Parks & Wildlife during flooding and assisted law enforcement in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

Committed to What Comes Next

T-Mobile’s commitment to the communities we serve is unwavering. We’ll keep strengthening our systems, expanding our network and pushing the boundaries of innovation so people can stay connected when it matters most.

I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made and even more excited about what comes next.

A significant portion of global energy use and industrial emissions stems from heating and cooling operations. The European Environment Agency reports that heating and cooling in the industrial sector are responsible for approximately 20-25% of Europe’s CO2 emissions. These systems have traditionally functioned in isolation for decades, with separate installation and management. This fragmented approach means that useful energy is often wasted, including rejected heat from cooling condensation and excess heat from heating operations. However, there’s an alternative to this inefficient model.

The opportunity

A fresh approach to thermal energy production, recovery and reuse provides a direct route to reducing carbon emissions, improving efficiency, maximizing energy utilization, and decreasing operating expenses across industries. By challenging conventional thinking, integrated thermal management systems allow industrial facilities to capture, redirect and distribute thermal energy throughout their operations. This holistic perspective is essential for industrial decarbonization – lowering emissions, reducing expenses and achieving genuinely carbon-neutral operations.

A law of physics

The first law of thermodynamics states that ‘energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another.’ This fundamental principle highlights the opportunity: when we think “thermally”, we see how energy rejected in one place, i.e. by the chiller, can become useful heat at another point in the processes.

Temperature control through cooling and heating is critical in food and beverage production for safeguarding food safety, preserving product quality and prolonging shelf life. Maintaining appropriate temperatures inhibits harmful bacteria and pathogen development, guaranteeing that products are safe to consume. Accurate temperature management also retains the intended texture, taste and nutritional content of food and beverages, ensuring uniform product quality.

Across other industries, heating and cooling support process consistency, material preservation and secure storage. These requirements can be fulfilled much more effectively through a comprehensive approach using an all-electric thermal management system.

Transitioning siloed heating and cooling plants into holistic thermal systems

Energy consumes more energy than any other sector globally, according to a McKinsey report. In 2017, it accounted for 149 million terajoules, with almost 45% of that total attributed to the generation of heat for industrial processes. European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) data show that process heating contributes to much of the 2,388 TWh of final energy industry uses for heating and cooling purposes.

Traditionally, heating has come from boilers burning fossil fuels, while cooling relied on electric chillers. These systems are designed and operated separately, ignoring the thermodynamic link between them. Consider the following:

• Industrial processes often require simultaneous heating and cooling.
• Chillers generate heat as a by-product of the cooling process, which is often rejected into the atmosphere or surrounding environment.
• There are often additional sources of waste energy that can be repurposed by heat pump technology, such as excess heat/cooling of compressed air, decentralized refrigeration systems, and ventilation systems.

A design in which chiller and boiler plants work alongside each other as separate systems is no longer justifiable. Heat pumps make it possible to repurpose waste heat for low and medium-temperature requirements without consuming additional fossil fuel.

Case Study: Organon

Based in Oss, the Netherlands, pharmaceutical manufacturer Organon adopted a thermal management mindset, showing that integrating decentralized heat pumps can improve energy efficiency by replacing central heating boilers.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Organon is gradually installing Trane heat pumps across various buildings. The first project, completed in May 2024, involved installing two water-to-water heat pumps (RTSF 070 G) in a manufacturing facility, providing cooling for compressed air treatment and recovering the heat, which is then distributed to the central heating network.

This initiative conserves 7,700 gigajoules of energy each year, approximately equal to 243,000 cubic meters of gas. Organon intends to implement additional enhancements, such as modifying air handling units to accommodate low-temperature heating, aiming to decrease gas dependency and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. These developments represent a major philosophical transformation: moving from fuel-dependent heating to electrified, optimized energy systems.

Creating a resource from waste heat

Excess heat isn’t a problem requiring disposal; it’s untapped energy ready to be harnessed. Free energy exists abundantly in our surroundings, and thermal management systems empower us to leverage this resource, creating opportunities to entirely remove fossil fuel dependence for heating purposes. These systems enable industries to reimagine how they view heat, converting what was previously wasted into a useful resource.

Although the concept of heat pumps is over one hundred years old, the heat pump has evolved through continuous advances in thermodynamic design, low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and compressor and control technologies. Today, heat pumps are more viable, efficient, and reliable, providing a clean alternative to fossil-fuel manufacturing processes requiring low to medium temperatures.

Heat pumps such as the Trane® RTSF HT can elevate recovered energy to temperatures reaching 110°C, meeting diverse process requirements that extend beyond space heating, storage heating, or preheating domestic hot water. Completely electrified thermal systems provide both heated and chilled water for temperature control processes and can capture and redirect energy while producing zero on-site carbon or NOx emissions.

Systems that provide heating and cooling simultaneously operate three to four times more efficiently than conventional approaches, delivering substantial cost savings. Contemporary heat pumps can produce three to four kilowatts of usable energy for every kilowatt consumed, reaching average efficiency ratios of 300-400%, which is over three times more efficient than traditional boilers.

The benefits go beyond performance: by combining cooling and heating systems, facilities reduce upfront investments, save space, and cut operating costs. This is the systems approach in action.

Changing mindsets, breaking through obstacles

Considering the process-intensive character of industrial operations, gaining comprehensive control over a facility’s thermal management systems can rapidly decrease energy use, carbon output, and operating costs. Although conventional doubts and hesitation about industrial heat pump applications remain, the advantages significantly surpass the challenges. Typical concerns regarding technical complexity, investment requirements, or facility constraints frequently stem from outdated perspectives based on isolated system approaches.

• Initial Costs: While the initial costs for integrated technologies and renewable energy systems can be higher, they are offset by long-term savings. All-inclusive (heating/cooling) thermal management systems often have returns of only 2-3 years due to greater energy efficiency and operational savings.
   
• Complexity: Designing a net-zero facility does require careful planning and coordination among architects, engineers, and contractors, but the core infrastructure and technologies exist. The focus should be on converting to thermal systems plants and gaining market acceptance.
   
• Site Constraints: Around 80% of current projects are retrofits, not new construction – proof that existing facilities can adopt this model.

Converting from stand-alone to integrated systems doesn’t mean reinventing the plant. It means rethinking how energy flows through it.

Case study: Saint Jean

A well-known French pasta manufacturer, Saint Jean, needed a temporary cooling capacity of 150kW to cover the additional summertime load in one of their facilities. What started as a typical project transformed the manager’s mindset, which considered heating and cooling in separate silos.

During the facility assessment intended to analyze the plant’s cooling requirements, aware of Saint Jean’s commitment to enhancing operational energy efficiency, Trane engineers suggested heat pumps rather than recommending an extra chiller for the short-term cooling demand. This solution would not only provide the necessary additional cooling capacity but also entirely eliminate the plant’s 300kW fossil fuel-powered boiler heating system – delivering substantial energy savings as a result.

Installation of two Trane City™ RTSF heat pumps, connected with the plant’s existing chillers, allowed to harness and boost the waste heat generated during cooling process.

The result was a 68% reduction in heating costs and a major drop in emissions.

Project summary:

• Cooling Capacity: 150kW
• Heating Capacity: 300kW (replacing fossil-fuel powered boilers)
• Cold Water Temperatures: -8°C to -4°C
• Hot Water Temperatures: up to 60°C
• Features: Integrated with existing chillers to reuse waste heat.

Envisioning the future: from equipment to strategy

Transforming the approach to heating and cooling system management is essential for achieving energy efficiency and sustainability goals. Thermal management has evolved beyond simply selecting appropriate boilers or chillers. It now represents a strategic collaboration focused on energy optimization, carbon reduction and operational stability.

As European manufacturers seek innovative approaches to achieve net-zero targets, the argument for integrated thermal systems becomes increasingly compelling. However, the most significant challenge is conceptual: transitioning from fragmented system models to viewing energy as fluid, recoverable and self-sufficient.

Reconceiving heating and cooling as components of a unified thermal system represents more than a technical evolution; it’s a leadership transformation. By replacing siloed approaches with holistic system perspectives, industrial operators can minimize energy waste, lower emissions, and safeguard their operations for the future. This transformation is already in motion. Now is the time to expand it.

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica earlier this fall, the response from the Jamaican diaspora in eastern Canada was immediate — and deeply personal. At the center of that effort was a DP World employee who helped mobilize a community-led relief initiative to deliver urgently needed supplies to impacted communities across western Jamaica. 

Through close collaboration with local partners and volunteers, DP World provided warehouse space, loading support, and the donation of a 20-foot shipping container to help transport relief supplies from Port Saint John in New Brunswick to Jamaica. 

A Community Effort Born from the Diaspora 

The initiative, organized under the Jamaicans in the Diaspora Hurricane Relief Initiative (Saint John–NB Region), quickly gained momentum as individuals, churches, and businesses across Atlantic Canada stepped forward to contribute. 

Donations poured in from across the region — and beyond — including support from: 

• Irving Tissue
• Brunswick Credit Union
• Home Depot
• Marine Partners
• Atlantic Superstore
• Ironwood Homes
• Mission Point Church
• Woodstock Wesleyan Church
• Community members in Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, and Woodstock 

At one point, organizers questioned whether a single container would be sufficient to hold the volume of donated goods. Through careful coordination and hands-on teamwork, the group made it work — ensuring every available inch of space was used efficiently. 

Logistics Expertise Accelerates Humanitarian Response 

DP World played a critical role in turning generosity into action. In addition to donating the container itself, the team provided secure warehouse space and hands-on support to load and prepare the shipment for export. 

The container was fully packed with 12 pallets of supplies and dispatched on December 4, 2025. While weather-related delays slowed transit, the shipment successfully arrived in Jamaica on December 13.  

To support rapid delivery on arrival, the Jamaican government authorized a duty-free import window, helping remove barriers for disaster relief shipments. Local churches and community organizations in western Jamaica will serve as distribution hubs, with KAM Custom Brokerage supporting customs clearance to ensure supplies reach families quickly. 

Turning Global Trade Capabilities into Local Impact 

For DP World, the effort reflects a broader commitment to supporting communities in moments of need – leveraging logistics expertise not only to move goods, but to move help where it matters most. 

This initiative aligns with DP World’s global sustainability and social impact strategy, “Our World, Our Future,” which prioritizes community resilience, emergency response, and employee-led action across the company’s global network. 

By empowering employees to lead and supporting grassroots partnerships, DP World helps ensure that aid reaches people faster – and with dignity – when disaster strikes. 

Learn more about DP World’s philanthropic impact in Canada here. 

A Shipment Powered by Solidarity 

This relief container carried more than donated supplies. It represented solidarity across borders, the strength of community networks, and the power of logistics to support recovery when it matters most. 

Through the combined efforts of volunteers, donors, and partners, a single container became a lifeline — and a reminder that global trade infrastructure can play a meaningful role in humanitarian response. 

Learn more about DP World’s community impact here.  

KeyBank proudly announced that it has earned the 2026 Military Friendly® Employer designation and the Military Friendly® Spouse Employer designation. This marks Key’s 12th consecutive year as a Military Friendly® Employer and 10th consecutive year as a Military Friendly® Spouse Employer, underscoring our long-standing commitment to supporting veterans, service members, and military families.

Institutions earning these designations were evaluated using public data sources and responses from over 1,200 companies who participated in the Military Friendly® survey. This proprietary survey employs a comprehensive and detailed methodology to evaluate and recognize companies that excel in supporting the military community.

At KeyBank, programs and resources are designed to help military-connected teammates thrive, including:

• Veteran-focused recruitment initiatives
• Business resource groups for service members and families

Career development support for all teammates
“Earning the Military Friendly® Employer and Spouse Employer designations for more than a decade reflects our unwavering commitment to those who have served and their families,” said Jessika Poldruhi, Chief Inclusion Officer, KeyBank.. “Veterans and military spouses bring unique skills, leadership, and resilience that strengthen our teams and our culture. At Key, we don’t just hire talent, we invest in their success and growth.”

“Earning the Military Friendly® designation is more than a badge; it’s a reflection of deep-rooted values and strategic foresight. These organizations don’t just open doors for veterans, spouses, and service members; they build pathways for lasting impact. Their commitment isn’t performative; it’s transformative. It’s proof that honoring military talent is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.” — Kayla Lopez, Vice President of Memberships, Military Friendly®

 

Originally published on Nielsen Foundation

The Nielsen Foundation is pleased to support six organizations in 2025 through our annual Data for Good grants program for innovative data-driven projects. Since 2017, these grants have supported nonprofit projects that creatively use data to bridge divides and foster lasting change. This year, the program focuses on advancing efforts that leverage media and/or technology to raise awareness, drive progress, and advance long-term outcomes for key social issues ranging from mental health to climate change and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

“Among many challenges, we know that media and technology can also be leveraged as forces for good in this world,” said Andrea Bertels, President and Executive Director of the Nielsen Foundation. “That’s why we are so pleased to support these exceptional organizations driving progress on key social issues in creative and innovative ways through advertising, narrative change, technology and more.”

Supported projects include:

• Civic Nation: to support We The Action’s work expanding access to justice and delivering free legal services where they are critically needed. To date, We The Action’s community of 55,000 lawyers has donated more than 400,000 hours worth over $210 million to nearly 800 nonprofit partners.

• Climate Central: for research to help local U.S. broadcasters better cover extreme weather and climate change, advancing the organization’s work to communicate climate change science, effects, and solutions to the public and decision-makers.

• Harmony Labs: to support media research and audience segmentation for creator-driven climate communications, in furtherance of Harmony Labs’ efforts to research and reshape the society’s relationship with media.

• The Jed Foundation: for research and the development of an insights report on teen use of artificial intelligence (AI) for mental health help-seeking, as part of the organization’s work to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and young adults.

• Potential Energy Coalition: for the research and development of more effective climate narratives to shape public education campaigns, increasing awareness and demand for solutions.

• TechSoup: to design and launch a nonprofit data literacy mentorship program that helps organizations transform data into insight, strengthen their storytelling, and drive more informed and effective community impact.

About the Nielsen Foundation

The Nielsen Foundation is a private foundation originally funded by Nielsen, a global data and analytics company. We envision a world, enabled by media and technology, where everyone has voice and opportunities to succeed. Our mission is to power and advance inclusive innovation in the media and technology industries, especially through the use of data and research.
 

For more than 30 years, we’ve been a proud supporter of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. 

This year, our employees and their families rolled up their sleeves for the annual Turtle Back Zoo Day of Service, where they: 

• Crafted more than 3,000 budgie sticks for birds in the aviary.
• Built cardboard enrichment items to promote the animals’ natural behaviors and encourage play.
• Removed 135 pounds of trash from the reservoir around the zoo.
• Measured every window at the zoo to help prepare for bird strike prevention decals. 

We’re grateful for a partnership that not only gives our employees the chance to support a great cause but also show their children the importance of volunteerism.

View original content here.

As part of its community support and volunteering, Holiday Lights at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo continues until January 3, 2026.

For more than 30 years, we’ve been a proud supporter of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. 

This year, our employees and their families rolled up their sleeves for the annual Turtle Back Zoo Day of Service, where they: 

• Crafted more than 3,000 budgie sticks for birds in the aviary.
• Built cardboard enrichment items to promote the animals’ natural behaviors and encourage play.
• Removed 135 pounds of trash from the reservoir around the zoo.
• Measured every window at the zoo to help prepare for bird strike prevention decals. 

We’re grateful for a partnership that not only gives our employees the chance to support a great cause but also show their children the importance of volunteerism.

View original content here.

As part of its community support and volunteering, Holiday Lights at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo continues until January 3, 2026.

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab

From Resiliency to Resolve: The State of Small Businesses

Small businesses have always been resilient. This year we are seeing something else too. Entrepreneurs are moving forward with intention and conviction. They are not just adapting, but they are committed, and staying present.

Over 70% of small business owners are confident they will achieve their definition of success in their lifetime. With AI reshaping how they grow, the outsized local economic impact is scaling faster than ever. Below is a 2025 wrap-up report on their outlook, plans to hire, and where you can find them online and nationally.

Introduction

For over six years, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab (formerly Venture Forward) has reported annually on digital businesses with typically fewer than 10 employees. Our research has captured the growth in number of jobs they create, their aspirations as well as challenges, and how patterns have shifted across the country and where they are taking root and thriving. We invite you to explore the key findings, customize the interactive map, download the charts, and share this with anyone supporting or owning a small business.

Report Sections

• Small business growth by location and industry
• Updated economic impact
• Customer stories
• Key entrepreneur insights

Microbusinesses Are Growing

Resilience has been a defining trait of small businesses, and in 2025, resolve stands out just as strongly.

In Canada, small and microbusinesses continue to expand in number and influence all over the country. Last year’s report highlighted the steady rise of entrepreneurs even in more remote areas – and this year, that momentum persists. Many of the entrepreneurs represented here are running relatively young businesses, often less than a decade old, and their ability to operate without a physical storefront has given them the flexibility to adapt quickly and seize new opportunities. These patterns align with survey insights from over 1,800 small business owners this year, and their steadfast focus, navigation of financial challenges, and positive business impact from using AI.

The chart below is a ranking of provinces by the highest microbusiness counts.

While strong activity is led by more populated areas, entrepreneurship is also accelerating fast in some smaller areas like Yukon. While Ontario is the largest community of small businesses, British Columbia is the densest. Density shows how many microbusinesses exist per 100 people. It gives us a clearer way to compare large and small provinces.

Provinces Ranked By Microbusiness Count

Province	Active Microbusinesses Q3 ’25	1 year Microbusiness Count % Growth	Microbusiness Density Q3 ’25
Ontario	428,608	17%	2.7
British Columbia	170,943	16%	3.1
Quebec	155,601	14%	1.7
Alberta	111,929	19%	2.4
Manitoba	19,285	15%	1.3
Saskatchewan	16,240	13%	1.3
Nova Scotia	14,925	16%	1.4
New Brunswick	9,470	4%	1.1
Newfoundland and Labrador	4,453	15%	0.8
Prince Edward Island	2,715	9%	1.5
Yukon	817	23%	1.8
Northwest Territories and Nunavut	613	16%	1.4

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research lab 2025​

Each year, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab reports on changes in e-commerce activity, including revenue, order volume, or number of sellers, based on data self-reported by website owners. The findings surface notable shifts in demand and participation, highlighting which products and services are drawing more suppliers, such as Writing and Business as well as Entertainment in 2025. These rankings show which industries saw the biggest year-over-year growth in entrepreneurs selling online.

Top 5 Ecommerce Industries in 2025 
Ranked by growth in entrepreneurs

• Rank #1: Writing: +23%
• Rank #2: Business: +19%
• Rank #3: Religion: +18%
• Rank #4: Public Space +17%
• Rank #4: Entertainment: +16%

Customer Stories

Myriam Provost
Atelier Renouveau par Myriam, ATELIERRENOUVWAU.CA

Myriam Provost started Atelier Renouveau par Myriam with a simple belief that old furniture deserves a second life. What began as a passion project during the pandemic quickly grew as customers fell in love with her restored vintage pieces. When she launched her bilingual website, she felt her business shift from hobby to real company. The site helped her reach new buyers who valued her eye for design and her careful craftsmanship. Today Myriam manages every step of the process herself and continues to build a loyal community. Her story shows how digital tools can turn one person’s creativity into a growing microbusiness.

Sadaf Rahimi
Charcuterie Vancouver, CHARCUTERIEVANCOUVER.com

Sadaf Rahimi built Charcuterie Vancouver from her love of bringing people together through food. She started with events and custom grazing tables, growing a small following that appreciated her care and artistry. When the pandemic halted gatherings, she refused to let the business fade. She shifted to individual charcuterie boxes and built a simple website so customers could order directly. The change kept her business alive and introduced her work to a wider community. Sadaf’s journey from newcomer to Canada to successful microbusiness owner shows how resilience, creativity, and digital tools can help an idea grow even in the toughest moments.

Key Entrepreneur Insights

Since 2019, GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab has surveyed over 60,000 global microbusiness owners with a GoDaddy domain and active website and just under 10,000 in Canada. Their answers give us a real view of how people are navigating changing conditions, and often offer an early signal of what’s ahead. Their responses cut through broader noise and provide a clearer, bottom-up read on the grassroots economy.​​ The below chart captures their outlook for their business revenue compared to the national economy over the second half of 2025.

Positive outlook for my business vs. the economy.

	Business	Economy
Nov ’23	69%	27%
Jul ‘24	68%	38%
Jul ’25	60%	26%

Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward Canada National Survey. July 2025 (N-= 3,101)​

Microbusinesses in Canada are, by design, small. 92% have fewer than ten employees, and over a quarter are run by solo entrepreneurs. Many owners are still building toward full-time operations, with 28% saying their business is their main source of income, 38% using it as supplemental income, and 34% reporting that it currently generates no income, which may be due to the recent start of the business.​

Half are first-time founders, and about 1 in 4 currently own more than one business. 37% previously sold a business at a profit or broke-even. This shows how strongly entrepreneurial ambition is continuing in Canada, with people experimenting, launching, and growing multiple ideas even in a shifting economic landscape. This is a community that is both resilient and resolute.

Microbusinesses are small

• 92%: Microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees
• 56% are solo entrepreneurs

Microbusinesses generate income

• 28%: Main
• 38%: Supplemental
• 34%: No Income

About 1 in 4 currently own more than one business

50% are first-time small business owners.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

While broader economic conversations leaned toward caution in 2025, micro-and small business owners delivered a quieter, more telling signal: they believe in their path and they’re planning for growth. Canadian microbusiness owners continue to show a grounded and moderate outlook for their financial turnover in the second half of 2025. After two-thirds had a steady or profitable first half of the year. 40% anticipate an increase, and 29% expect no change.

Expectations for financial turnover increase in 2025 have been neutral to positive

• 29%: No Change
• 40%: Positive

First half of 2025 was steady or profitable for most small businesses in Canada

Monthly revenue change Jan-July

• 29%: Lower
• 40%: No Change
• 24%: Higher

Their ambition, hard work and independence has made them successful, but recent economic concerns have made them more self-aware, cost-sensitive and income-driven having started their ventures using their personal savings. 45% of entrepreneurs cited having enough money to pay rent, wages, advertising, etc. as the primary cause of stress from their business, and that is on top of the fact that 64% of entrepreneurs fund their small business from personal savings when first starting out. Just over half (54%) of microbusiness owners would say they have a work-life balance.

Under these financial pressures and with the goal of optimizing time and stress, they are turning more to AI to do more content creation and summaries as well as strategy for marketing or operations.

Overall, AI adoption has accelerated. Over one-third (38%) now use AI for their business, and small business owners say AI delivers value in several key areas:​

• 71%: Writing content
• 62%: Summarizing information or text​
• 54%: Generating recommendations for marketing or operations​

And when it comes to what brings these entrepreneurs the most joy, it’s predominantly creating their own source of income (25%), followed by connecting with customers (17%).​ They also have strong conviction in the return on investment of having a venture, with 1 in 4 believing their small business is the best way to fund their future and retirement, above stocks and retirement funds.

Al use has a positive impact on small businesses

• 63% of entrepreneurs report a positive impact from Al on their business

Financial and time pressures top the list as causes of stress for entrepreneurs

• 45%: Financial stress/limited cash
• 38%: Work-Life balance (not enough time)
• 29%: Competition from other businesses
• 20%: Customer issues
• 16%: Technology/Equipment
• 11%: Vendors/Partnerships stress
• 3%: Employee issues

25%: 1 in 4 believe income from their small business is the most lucrative way to fund their future and retirement.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

The main source of capital when starting a small business in Canada

64%	Personal savings
9%	No capital needed
9%	Loan from friends and/or family
5%	Loan from bank/credit union
2%	Equity investors
1%	Online startup campaign or crowdfunding

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

As far as connecting with customers, their approach to online presence reflects another interesting trend. 40% point to their website as the main place where customers can buy from them, followed by 27% on social media and 21% in a storefront or office.​

For those who don’t sell on their website, an online presence still plays a central role: 69% view it as critical for marketing and credibility, and 42% rely on it for customer communications. And despite the reach a website can provide, many operate with a strong local focus. Most say their customers are based within their province or even city, offering meaningful proximity to the people they serve and, in some cases, insulating them from certain global or cross-border market pressures.

Online presence leads as far as where small businesses conduct business and Services

• 40%: Website
• 27%: Social Media
• 21%: Storefront or Office

What entrepreneurs use their website for the most

• 69%: Marketing & Credibility
• 42%: Communications
• 37%: Sales Orders
• 20%: Bookings
• 9%: Operations

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

Microbusinesses are focused locally

• 6 out of 10 say most of their customers live within their city or province.
• 80% of small business owners serve only domestic customers.

About GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

A research initiative launched in 2018 that quantifies the growth and economic impact of over 25 million global online microbusinesses, and provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs.

To explore our research further, specifically all the reports since 2020, we’ve also introduced a CustomGPT experience through ChatGPT at research.godaddy/gpt that allows for deeper analysis and discovery.​ 

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab

From Resiliency to Resolve: The State of Small Businesses

Small businesses have always been resilient. This year we are seeing something else too. Entrepreneurs are moving forward with intention and conviction. They are not just adapting, but they are committed, and staying present.

Over 70% of small business owners are confident they will achieve their definition of success in their lifetime. With AI reshaping how they grow, the outsized local economic impact is scaling faster than ever. Below is a 2025 wrap-up report on their outlook, plans to hire, and where you can find them online and nationally.

Introduction

For over six years, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab (formerly Venture Forward) has reported annually on digital businesses with typically fewer than 10 employees. Our research has captured the growth in number of jobs they create, their aspirations as well as challenges, and how patterns have shifted across the country and where they are taking root and thriving. We invite you to explore the key findings, customize the interactive map, download the charts, and share this with anyone supporting or owning a small business.

Report Sections

• Small business growth by location and industry
• Updated economic impact
• Customer stories
• Key entrepreneur insights

Microbusinesses Are Growing

Resilience has been a defining trait of small businesses, and in 2025, resolve stands out just as strongly.

In Canada, small and microbusinesses continue to expand in number and influence all over the country. Last year’s report highlighted the steady rise of entrepreneurs even in more remote areas – and this year, that momentum persists. Many of the entrepreneurs represented here are running relatively young businesses, often less than a decade old, and their ability to operate without a physical storefront has given them the flexibility to adapt quickly and seize new opportunities. These patterns align with survey insights from over 1,800 small business owners this year, and their steadfast focus, navigation of financial challenges, and positive business impact from using AI.

The chart below is a ranking of provinces by the highest microbusiness counts.

While strong activity is led by more populated areas, entrepreneurship is also accelerating fast in some smaller areas like Yukon. While Ontario is the largest community of small businesses, British Columbia is the densest. Density shows how many microbusinesses exist per 100 people. It gives us a clearer way to compare large and small provinces.

Provinces Ranked By Microbusiness Count

Province	Active Microbusinesses Q3 ’25	1 year Microbusiness Count % Growth	Microbusiness Density Q3 ’25
Ontario	428,608	17%	2.7
British Columbia	170,943	16%	3.1
Quebec	155,601	14%	1.7
Alberta	111,929	19%	2.4
Manitoba	19,285	15%	1.3
Saskatchewan	16,240	13%	1.3
Nova Scotia	14,925	16%	1.4
New Brunswick	9,470	4%	1.1
Newfoundland and Labrador	4,453	15%	0.8
Prince Edward Island	2,715	9%	1.5
Yukon	817	23%	1.8
Northwest Territories and Nunavut	613	16%	1.4

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research lab 2025​

Each year, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab reports on changes in e-commerce activity, including revenue, order volume, or number of sellers, based on data self-reported by website owners. The findings surface notable shifts in demand and participation, highlighting which products and services are drawing more suppliers, such as Writing and Business as well as Entertainment in 2025. These rankings show which industries saw the biggest year-over-year growth in entrepreneurs selling online.

Top 5 Ecommerce Industries in 2025 
Ranked by growth in entrepreneurs

• Rank #1: Writing: +23%
• Rank #2: Business: +19%
• Rank #3: Religion: +18%
• Rank #4: Public Space +17%
• Rank #4: Entertainment: +16%

Customer Stories

Myriam Provost
Atelier Renouveau par Myriam, ATELIERRENOUVWAU.CA

Myriam Provost started Atelier Renouveau par Myriam with a simple belief that old furniture deserves a second life. What began as a passion project during the pandemic quickly grew as customers fell in love with her restored vintage pieces. When she launched her bilingual website, she felt her business shift from hobby to real company. The site helped her reach new buyers who valued her eye for design and her careful craftsmanship. Today Myriam manages every step of the process herself and continues to build a loyal community. Her story shows how digital tools can turn one person’s creativity into a growing microbusiness.

Sadaf Rahimi
Charcuterie Vancouver, CHARCUTERIEVANCOUVER.com

Sadaf Rahimi built Charcuterie Vancouver from her love of bringing people together through food. She started with events and custom grazing tables, growing a small following that appreciated her care and artistry. When the pandemic halted gatherings, she refused to let the business fade. She shifted to individual charcuterie boxes and built a simple website so customers could order directly. The change kept her business alive and introduced her work to a wider community. Sadaf’s journey from newcomer to Canada to successful microbusiness owner shows how resilience, creativity, and digital tools can help an idea grow even in the toughest moments.

Key Entrepreneur Insights

Since 2019, GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab has surveyed over 60,000 global microbusiness owners with a GoDaddy domain and active website and just under 10,000 in Canada. Their answers give us a real view of how people are navigating changing conditions, and often offer an early signal of what’s ahead. Their responses cut through broader noise and provide a clearer, bottom-up read on the grassroots economy.​​ The below chart captures their outlook for their business revenue compared to the national economy over the second half of 2025.

Positive outlook for my business vs. the economy.

	Business	Economy
Nov ’23	69%	27%
Jul ‘24	68%	38%
Jul ’25	60%	26%

Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward Canada National Survey. July 2025 (N-= 3,101)​

Microbusinesses in Canada are, by design, small. 92% have fewer than ten employees, and over a quarter are run by solo entrepreneurs. Many owners are still building toward full-time operations, with 28% saying their business is their main source of income, 38% using it as supplemental income, and 34% reporting that it currently generates no income, which may be due to the recent start of the business.​

Half are first-time founders, and about 1 in 4 currently own more than one business. 37% previously sold a business at a profit or broke-even. This shows how strongly entrepreneurial ambition is continuing in Canada, with people experimenting, launching, and growing multiple ideas even in a shifting economic landscape. This is a community that is both resilient and resolute.

Microbusinesses are small

• 92%: Microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees
• 56% are solo entrepreneurs

Microbusinesses generate income

• 28%: Main
• 38%: Supplemental
• 34%: No Income

About 1 in 4 currently own more than one business

50% are first-time small business owners.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

While broader economic conversations leaned toward caution in 2025, micro-and small business owners delivered a quieter, more telling signal: they believe in their path and they’re planning for growth. Canadian microbusiness owners continue to show a grounded and moderate outlook for their financial turnover in the second half of 2025. After two-thirds had a steady or profitable first half of the year. 40% anticipate an increase, and 29% expect no change.

Expectations for financial turnover increase in 2025 have been neutral to positive

• 29%: No Change
• 40%: Positive

First half of 2025 was steady or profitable for most small businesses in Canada

Monthly revenue change Jan-July

• 29%: Lower
• 40%: No Change
• 24%: Higher

Their ambition, hard work and independence has made them successful, but recent economic concerns have made them more self-aware, cost-sensitive and income-driven having started their ventures using their personal savings. 45% of entrepreneurs cited having enough money to pay rent, wages, advertising, etc. as the primary cause of stress from their business, and that is on top of the fact that 64% of entrepreneurs fund their small business from personal savings when first starting out. Just over half (54%) of microbusiness owners would say they have a work-life balance.

Under these financial pressures and with the goal of optimizing time and stress, they are turning more to AI to do more content creation and summaries as well as strategy for marketing or operations.

Overall, AI adoption has accelerated. Over one-third (38%) now use AI for their business, and small business owners say AI delivers value in several key areas:​

• 71%: Writing content
• 62%: Summarizing information or text​
• 54%: Generating recommendations for marketing or operations​

And when it comes to what brings these entrepreneurs the most joy, it’s predominantly creating their own source of income (25%), followed by connecting with customers (17%).​ They also have strong conviction in the return on investment of having a venture, with 1 in 4 believing their small business is the best way to fund their future and retirement, above stocks and retirement funds.

Al use has a positive impact on small businesses

• 63% of entrepreneurs report a positive impact from Al on their business

Financial and time pressures top the list as causes of stress for entrepreneurs

• 45%: Financial stress/limited cash
• 38%: Work-Life balance (not enough time)
• 29%: Competition from other businesses
• 20%: Customer issues
• 16%: Technology/Equipment
• 11%: Vendors/Partnerships stress
• 3%: Employee issues

25%: 1 in 4 believe income from their small business is the most lucrative way to fund their future and retirement.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

The main source of capital when starting a small business in Canada

64%	Personal savings
9%	No capital needed
9%	Loan from friends and/or family
5%	Loan from bank/credit union
2%	Equity investors
1%	Online startup campaign or crowdfunding

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

As far as connecting with customers, their approach to online presence reflects another interesting trend. 40% point to their website as the main place where customers can buy from them, followed by 27% on social media and 21% in a storefront or office.​

For those who don’t sell on their website, an online presence still plays a central role: 69% view it as critical for marketing and credibility, and 42% rely on it for customer communications. And despite the reach a website can provide, many operate with a strong local focus. Most say their customers are based within their province or even city, offering meaningful proximity to the people they serve and, in some cases, insulating them from certain global or cross-border market pressures.

Online presence leads as far as where small businesses conduct business and Services

• 40%: Website
• 27%: Social Media
• 21%: Storefront or Office

What entrepreneurs use their website for the most

• 69%: Marketing & Credibility
• 42%: Communications
• 37%: Sales Orders
• 20%: Bookings
• 9%: Operations

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National CA Survey, July 2025; n=~1,800+

Microbusinesses are focused locally

• 6 out of 10 say most of their customers live within their city or province.
• 80% of small business owners serve only domestic customers.

About GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

A research initiative launched in 2018 that quantifies the growth and economic impact of over 25 million global online microbusinesses, and provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs.

To explore our research further, specifically all the reports since 2020, we’ve also introduced a CustomGPT experience through ChatGPT at research.godaddy/gpt that allows for deeper analysis and discovery.​ 

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab

From Resiliency to Resolve: The State of Small Businesses

Small businesses have always been resilient. This year we are seeing something else too. Entrepreneurs are moving forward with intention and conviction. They are not just adapting, but they are committed, and staying present.

Over 70% of small business owners are confident they will achieve their definition of success in their lifetime. With AI reshaping how they grow, the outsized local economic impact is scaling faster than ever. Below is a 2025 wrap-up report on their outlook, plans to hire, and where you can find them online and nationally.

Introduction

For over six years, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab (formerly Venture Forward) has reported annually on digital businesses with typically fewer than 10 employees. Our research has captured the growth in number of jobs they create, their aspirations as well as challenges, and how patterns have shifted across the country and where they are taking root and thriving. We invite you to explore the key findings, customize the interactive map, download the charts, and share this with anyone supporting or owning a small business.

Report Sections

• Small business growth by location and industry
• Updated economic impact
• Customer stories
• Key entrepreneur insights

Microbusinesses Are Growing

Resilience has been a defining trait of small businesses, and in 2025, resolve stands out just as strongly.

More than half of the entrepreneurs represented here launched less than 10 years ago. Last year’s report captured the growth that accelerated in rural areas and regained traction in major cities. Findings from 2025 show that momentum continuing, with entrepreneurs adapting to changing market conditions, embracing AI and changing technology, and growing in number across all types of communities in the United States. These patterns align with survey insights from nearly 5,000 small business owners this year, and their optimistic focus, plans for growth, and steadfastness.

The chart below is a ranking of states by the highest microbusiness counts.

While strong activity is led by big cities, smaller communities are gaining momentum too. Florida, Arizona, New Jersey, and California continue to stand out with growth in both the number of businesses and the density of activity. Density shows how many microbusinesses exist per 100 people. It gives us a clearer way to compare large and small states.

Top 10 States By Microbusiness Count

State	Active Microbusinesses Q3 ’25	1 Year Microbusiness Count Change	Microbusiness Density Q3 ’25
California	3,911,254	1%	9.9
Florida	2,472,670	4%	10.6
Texas	1,936,827	4%	6.2
New York	1,804,154	2%	9.1
Georgia	786,792	2%	7.0
Illinois	782,117	1%	6.2
Washington	723,217	3%	9.1
Pennsylvania	717,586	2%	5.5
New Jersey	684,977	2%	7.2
Arizona	638,607	1%	8.4

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab 2025

Each year, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab reports on changes in e-commerce activity, including revenue, order volume, or number of sellers, based on data self-reported by website owners. The findings surface notable shifts in demand and participation, highlighting which products and services are drawing more suppliers, such as Software and IT offerings as well as Home Services and Travel in 2025. These rankings show which industries saw the biggest year over year growth in entrepreneurs selling online.

Top 5 Ecommerce Industries in 2025 
Ranked by growth in entrepreneurs

• Rank #1: Software & IT: +23%
• Rank #2: Auto: +19%
• Rank #3: Home Services: +18%
• Rank #4: Travel: +17%
• Rank #4: Religion: +16%

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, US data, YoY Q3’24 – Q3’25

Microbusinesses Make Major Economic Impact

• 8+: Over eight new jobs are created by each microbusiness entrepreneur on a county-level. In 2021, each microbusiness created just over two jobs.

It is not always simple to measure the impact of small digital businesses. Many are new, part-time, or informal. To close that gap, we’ve worked with UCLA economists and U.S. Census data to quantify how even a single microbusiness influences local economies.

In 2025, their effects further increased. ​

We found this year that each microbusiness owner creates over 8 new jobs in their respective county – and that number is up from just a few years ago, when one microbusiness created just two jobs in 2020.

That means microbusinesses today have more impact on their communities today than they have before.

Communities where more households own microbusinesses also see higher incomes: every 1% increase in microbusiness ownership correlates with roughly a 2% rise in income, or around $1,500 over three years.

Together, these findings show how small, digital businesses are a meaningful force in economic growth.

 

Customer Stories

Tanika “Nika” Nelson
Nika’s Cupcake Bar, NIKASCUPCAKEBAR.COM

When Nika lost her job, she turned her passion for baking into Nika’s Cupcake Bar. What began as simple cupcakes grew into a real microbusiness once she built her website and committed to selling online. With support from GoDaddy tools, she learned how to reach customers and manage orders with confidence. The income mattered, but the shift in her mindset mattered more. Nika says entrepreneurship helped her regain control, purpose, and pride in her work. Her experience reflects what many survey respondents shared. For most microbusiness owners, life feels better as an entrepreneur because they get to shape their own future.

Kat Hernandez
Juanita’s Plants, JUANITASPLANTS.COM

While managing freelance work and student debt, Kat founded Juanita’s Plants with just one houseplant for sale. She posted it online and orders arrived faster than she expected. She reinvested everything into her website, pop up events, and a small delivery service. The business grew slowly and steadily and gave her a sense of independence she had always wanted. Kat plans to open multiple locations one day and build a place that feels welcoming to everyone. Her experience mirrors a larger trend among young microbusiness owners who rely on digital tools, start lean, stay flexible, and dream far bigger than their budgets.

Key Entrepreneur Insights

​Since 2019, the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab has heard directly from over 60,000 micro- and small business owners across the country who have a GoDaddy domain and an active website. Their answers give us a real view of how people are navigating uncertainty, and often offer an early signal of what’s ahead. Their responses cut through broader noise and provide a clearer, bottom-up read on the grassroots economy.

Positive outlook for my business vs. the economy

	Business	Economy
Jul ’20	52%	23%
Jul ‘21	69%	51%
Feb ‘22	73%	48%
Aug ‘22	60%	37%
Feb ’23	73%	32%
Aug ‘23	72%	34%
Feb ‘24	74%	39%
Apr ’25	66%	31%

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab U.S. National Survey. 2025

Let’s start with who we’re talking about. These businesses are, by design, small. 95% have fewer than 10 employees, and 65% are run by solo entrepreneurs. Many aren’t running it full-time yet, although most want to be. In October, 45% said their business is their main source of income, 40% use it as supplemental income, and 15% say it currently generates no income.​

And while almost two-thirds (65%) are first-time business owners, entrepreneurship runs deep in this group. Nearly one in three owns more than one business, and 29% of serial entrepreneurs sold a previous venture at a profit or broke even before starting their current one. This is a community that is both resilient and resolute.

Microbusinesses are small

• 95%: Microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees
• 65% are solo entrepreneurs
• 35% have employees

Microbusinesses generate income

• 45%: Main
• 40%: Supplemental
• 15%: No Income

About 1 in 3 currently own more than one business

65% are first-time small business owners.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National Survey, October 2025; n = ~1,100.

While broader economic conversations leaned toward caution in 2025, small and microbusiness owners delivered a quieter, more telling signal: they believe in their path and they’re planning for growth.​

In April, one in four planned to hire within the next 12 months, and in October, 17% (one in six) expected to bring on new employees within the 2-month period before the end of 2025, showing that hiring intentions remained despite shifting conditions. That same survey also revealed that two-thirds expected sales in November and December to match or exceed last year, and a similar share anticipated revenue to hold steady or grow.

Their outlook on hiring lines up with how they see sales. Most expect revenue to hold steady or grow in the months ahead.​

Majority have neutral to positive expectations of Nov-Dec 2025 sales compared to 2024

• Lower: 26%
• No Change: 37%
• Higher: 29%

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National Survey, October 2025; n = ~1,100. *Remaining respondents indicated they were uncertain.

Small business outlook on revenue over the next 6 months is cautiously optimistic

• Negative: 24%
• Positive or No Change: 66%

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National Survey, October 2025; n = ~1,100. *10% of respondents selected “Don’t know”

Small and microbusiness owners are also redefining what success means today. Shifting from traditional financial milestones, they’re prioritizing stability, purpose, and quality of life as seen below.

This shift is widespread. 83% say their definition of success has evolved from somewhat to completely since childhood, and 72% feel confident they’ll achieve it, again demonstrating that resiliency and resolve at a time when economic uncertainty is top-of-mind in the news.

They’re also clear about what stands in their way. The top barriers to achieving success include:​

• Lack of financial support and/or high costs (54%)​
• Lack of guidance (38%)​
• Lack of expertise or skills needed (36%)​
• Lack of time (33%)

These challenges matter. Small and microbusinesses play a major cultural and economic role in U.S. communities, therefore strengthening the support systems around them is important to sustaining the confidence and momentum they carry into the future.​

Majority of entrepreneurs have changed how they define success since childhood

• 84% say their definition has changed from slightly to completely
• 47% completely agree
• 37% yes, slightly

Definitions of success by entrepreneurs

• 53%: Living comfortable lifestyle with financial security
• 43%: Freedom to pursue passions/goals
• 37%: Feeling happy with life
• 27%: Being able to pay off debt
• 26%: Being own boss
• 21%: Having something to leave children
• 21%: Impacting community
• 17%: Fulfilling career
• 13%: Owning my own home

72%: Seventy-two percent of entrepreneurs feel confident they’ll achieve success in their lifetime.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National Survey, October 2025; n = ~1,100.

Top barriers to achieving success

54%	Lack of financial support and/or high costs
38%	Lack of guidance
36%	Lack of expertise / skills needed
33%	Lack of time
32%	Lack of opportunity
21%	Lack of communication skills
16%	Lack of education
8%	None of the above

With lack of time ranking among the top challenges for small and microbusiness owners, AI adoption has accelerated. Nearly half (49%) now use AI for their business, which is almost double the 25% reported in early 2024. Owners say AI delivers value in several key areas:​

• 36%: Improved marketing content – the top cited business challenge​
• 33%: Better customer communication ​
• 29%: Enhanced efficiency

Their approach to online presence reflects another interesting trend. While 77% say social media is important for building awareness, only 24% sell products or services directly on those platforms. Instead, 56% point to their website as the place where customers can buy from them. The second most common sales channel is in-person, e.g. farmer’s markets or pop-ups, which aligns with the fact that two-thirds do not have a physical business location.​

For those who don’t sell on their website, an online presence still plays a central role: 73% view it as critical for marketing and credibility, and 61% rely on it for customer communications. And despite the reach a website can provide, many operate with a strong local focus. Most say their customers and vendors are based within their state, their region, or even their own neighborhood, offering meaningful proximity to the people they serve and, in some cases, insulating them from certain global or cross-border market pressures.​

“Where can someone buy your products & services?”

• 56%: My Website
• 40%: In Person (But Not Office)
• 24%: Social Media
• 18%: In-Store Or Office

Websites support entrepreneurs to achieve a variety of goals

• 73%: Marketing & Credibility
• 61%: Communications
• 31%: Sales Orders
• 24%: Bookings
• 17%: Operations

Microbusinesses are focused locally

• 69% of small business owners have no international suppliers.
• 45% source more than half of their supply chain within their city or state.
• Two-thirds say most of their customers live within their city or state.
• 78% of small business owners serve only domestic customers.

Source: GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab National Survey, July 2025; n = ~ 1,400.

About GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

A research initiative launched in 2018 that quantifies the growth and economic impact of over 25 million global online microbusinesses, and provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs.

To explore our research further, specifically all the reports since 2020, we’ve also introduced a CustomGPT experience through ChatGPT at research.godaddy/gpt that allows for deeper analysis and discovery.​