Emergent Research

Fact-based analysis of the small business economy

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Emergent Research Blogs

  • Small Business Labs: Tracking the future of small business
  • Coworking Labs: A research blog on coworking

Reports and Resources

  • State of Independence in America
  • Future of the Accounting Profession
  • Intuit 2020 Research Report
  • Today's Hobbyists are Tomorrow's Hobbypreneurs
  • Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force
  • Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook
  • The Economic Stimulus Package: What's in it for Growing Businesses?
  • Defining Small Business Innovation
  • 2010 Top 10 Small Business Trends
  • Intuit Future of Small Business Resources
  • The Changing Face of Entrepreneurs
  • The Connected World of Entrepreneurs

Videos

  • How Coworking is Changing How and Where We Work
  • Voices of Coworking
  • What will business look like in 2020?

2012 Research Agenda

Small Business and the Future of Work

Our 2012 research continues to be focused on the future of work and the workplace, and what it means for small, micro and personal businesses.  This is a broad area and we will be conducting research deep dives on key future of work trends.  Our deep dives will include:

1.  Coworking:  We will continue our c0w0rking research in 2012 and, among other topics, will further examine the growing trend of corporate coworking.

2.  The Independent Worker:  We will be partnering again with MBO Partners on the 2nd annual State of Independence study.  The 2011 study is available here.

3.  Big Data:   The rise of Big Data is fundamentally changing how industries are structured and work is done.  Continuing a project started in 2011, we will be studying Big Data and it's impact on small business and consumers the entire year.

4.  Cloud, Mobile, Social:  These inter-related technology trends are fundamentally changing how small businesses operate.   In 2012 we will continue examining the impacts of these trends on small business and on the future of work. 

5.  New Localism:  Social, demographic and technology trends are driving a rediscovery of local communities and all things local.  We will continue examining how the new localism trend is impacting where and how we work. 

6.  Small and Artisan Manufacturing:  We will continue our ongoing research on small and artisan manufacturing examining how new technologies, business models and marketing methods are impacting this sector. 

Emergent Research in the News

  • Wall Street Journal: Why Locals Are Lounging in the Hotel Lobby
  • Wall Street Journal: Looking for Ideas in Shared Workspaces
  • GigaOm: The conversion to coworking 2.0 continues
  • MSN: The State of Small Business in an Innovation Nation
  • Inc. Magazine: 5 Myths About Being a Home-Based Business
  • The Economist: The rise of co-working
  • Beauty Store Business: Retailers Have the Ball
  • Fortune: For rent: A desk, WiFi, and instant coworkers
  • Washington Post: Days are endless when you’re an independent contractor
  • Wall Street Journal: With New Technology, Start-Ups Go Lean
  • Smart Money: Can Empty Nesters Still Afford to Splurge?
  • CRM Magazine: 2011 CRM Market Leaders
  • NPR Marketplace: Employers might dump insurance
  • Credit Union Magazine: The Future of Financial Services
  • Accounting Today: The Future of Accounting Profession
  • NPR Marketplace: Businesses save off green incentives
  • Wall Street Journal: Built on Plastic
  • Business Week: Twitter for Entrepreneurs: 20 to Follow: Steve King