Newtek Business Services Corp.,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 1,400 respondents, the key finding from the January survey is 75% of business owners plan to keep their number of employees the same.

The full January 2015 results showed the following:

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority® commented, "Spurts of economic strength such as the recent GDP number and the U.S. dollar strength as compared to other currencies are countered by the recent weak corporate earnings as well as the recent decline in durable goods orders. Small businesses in general continue to be apprehensive regarding growth and new hires. Despite an illusionary falling unemployment number, the total number of employed Americans continues to be a lackluster economic statistic with no trend reversal in sight."