Newtek Business Services, The Small Business Authority, with a portfolio of over 100,000 business accounts, announced today the findings of its SB Authority Market Sentiment Survey, a monthly window into the concerns of independent business owners. Based on a poll of over 1,300 respondents, one of the key findings from the February survey is 45% of business owners feel neutral about the business future over the next 12 months. Of the remaining, 36% are optimistic, with only 19% feeling pessimistic.

The full February 2013 results showed the following:

Barry Sloane , Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "After recording a negative flash GDP number for the fourth quarter and on the cusp of Sequestration, it is somewhat surprising, but yet defining, that business owners are more optimistic than pessimistic about the business environment going forward. With about half of our 1344 polled recipients neutral on the economy, the remaining participants were optimistic about the economy by slightly less than a 2:1 margin. This optimism must be a product of an improving stock market and a better lending environment.  The payroll tax hike has made consumers less apt to spend but it has not affected the slightly optimistic thought process of independent business owners according to our poll."