Poll: 44% of Small Business Owners Worry Omicron Will Impact Their Recovery

A new poll of small business owners shows that 44% are concerned about the new coronavirus omicron variant hurting their already-challenging economic recovery.

According to Alignable’s Omicron Pulse Poll of 5,632 small business owners conducted December 4-7, industries that rely on in-person business are very worried about what omicron might do their business; 70% in travel, 69% of restaurant owners, 68% of massage therapists, and 58% of retailers have expressed strong concerns.

The poll also found:

The omicron variant is even more daunting for disadvantaged groups including minority business owners:

• 69% of minorities polled expressed concern about omicron affecting their recovery
• The majority of women who own small businesses (52%) felt the same way.

The degree of concern varied depending on what state the small business was located in:

• 60% of New York-based small businesses are nervous about omicron, as well as 64% of those in Massachusetts, 57% in New Jersey, and 54% in Michigan
• States with small businesses that are not as concerned include Texas (38%), Colorado (37%), and North Carolina (37%).

Small business owners reported strategies they are taking to help control potential damage omicron could cause:

• 40% say they’re increasing basic health protocols
• 23% say they’re getting a booster shot
•  21% are investing more into marketing.

Click here for more insights from Alignable’s poll.