Access to Capital Remains Key Challenge for U.S. Small Businesses, Study Shows

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Nov 15, 2011) - Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp., the leading provider of business credit-building and credibility management solutions, today pointed to the latest results from a survey of 10,637 privately-held businesses as evidence that small businesses continue to face major challenges in accessing the capital needed to grow. Despite these challenges, small businesses are much more optimistic about the economic forecast than larger companies, and are more likely to hire in the coming months.

The results come from the State of Small Business Report, a survey conducted by the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project in cooperation with Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. The following are among the report's key findings:

• Of those respondents that tried to raise capital within the previous 12 months, 35 percent applied for bank loans and only 50 percent of those that applied were successful (whereas 16 percent of those trying to raise capital looked to friends and family, with a success rate of 79 percent);
• While business owners have a negative outlook on general business conditions, small business owners indicate that they are more likely to hire additional staff in the next six months;
• Small business owners cited access to capital among the top reasons preventing small business owners from hiring new employees, 22 percent cited access to capital.

"We are proud to facilitate one of the largest surveys of small businesses ever conducted in the U.S. by offering the Pepperdine researchers access to the Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.'s vast database of small businesses," said Jeffrey Stibel, Chairman & CEO, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. "These results make clear that small businesses are poised and ready to jumpstart this country's economic engine, but are restrained by numerous obstacles accessing the capital that is so critical to growing these companies."

"The Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project State of Small Business Report gives capital providers and policymakers a unique look at how small businesses are faring. A comprehensive solution to our economic crisis must include input from small businesses as well as members of the private capital community," said Dr. John Paglia, who directs the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project and is an associate professor of finance at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management.

Upcoming releases include Pepperdine's Capital Markets report and a first-time California Small Business supplement report.

Download Pepperdine's State of Small Business Report at http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/smallbiz2011

About Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.
Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. is the leading provider of credit building and credibility solutions for businesses. The company helps businesses establish their credit with a D&B D-U-N-S® Number and provides the only business credit solution available to companies looking to build, monitor, and impact their business credit and credibility. The company's headquarters are in Los Angeles, CA with offices throughout the United States. For more information on the company, please visit www.DandB.com or follow the company on Twitter via @DandB.

About Pepperdine University Graziadio School Of Business And Management
Founded on the core values of integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion, Pepperdine University's Graziadio (GRAT-ZEE-ah-DEE-oh) School of Business and Management has been developing values-centered leaders and advancing responsible business practice since 1969. Student-focused, experience-driven, and globally-oriented, the Graziadio School offers fully accredited MBA, Masters of Science, and bachelor's completion business programs. More information can be found at http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/.