Jersey City-based Bluevine has released its inaugural Business Owner Success Survey (“BOSS”) Report TM, benchmarking the data behind the actual decisions that US-based small business owners are making and informing their future decisions. The data supports an overarching takeaway: while 2023 had small business owners (SMBOs) focused on efficiencies and profitability, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of growth for the SMB segment. As a key indicator of growth, SMBs are poised to see an uptick in overall headcount growth in 2024, with 67% of US small businesses surveyed planning on making new hires. In 2023, comparatively, 75% finished the year with the same or fewer employees than they had at the start of the year. “Accounting for nearly half of the GDP and hiring in the U.S., small businesses play a significant role in our economy and are a driving force of innovation, opportunity, and inspiration,” said Eyal Lifshitz, Bluevine co-founder and CEO.