Emergent Research

Tracking the Future of Small Business and Independent Work

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Emergent Research Blog

  • Small Business Labs: Tracking the future of small business

Reports and Resources

  • Harvard Business Review: Coworking Is Not About Workspace — It’s About Feeling Less Lonely
  • Podcast: The Gig Economy Smack Down
  • Dispatches From the New Economy: The 2016 On-Demand Workforce
  • Intuit 2016 Future of Small Business Report
  • MBO Partners State of Independence 2016
  • Dispatches From The New Economy: The Five Faces Of The On-Demand Econ…
  • Dispatches From The New Economy: The 2015 On-Demand Economy And The Future…
  • MBO Partners State of Independence 2015
  • How to Get Feedback as a Freelancer
  • Top 10 Small Business Trends for 2015
  • 2014 MBO Partners State of Independence Report
  • Small Business Success in the Cloud
  • How to Live the Freelance Life
  • Intuit 2020: Future of Accountancy
  • 3rd Annual (2013) State of Independence Report
  • The New Data Democracy
  • 2nd Annual MBO Partners State of Independence Study
  • State of Independence in America
  • Intuit 2020 Research Reports and Resources
  • Today's Hobbyists are Tomorrow's Hobbypreneurs
  • Defining Small Business Innovation
  • Intuit Future of Small Business Resources
  • The Connected World of Entrepreneurs

Trends and Insights on the Small Business Economy

Emergent Research is a research and consulting firm focused on the most dynamic sector of the global economy - small businesses. 
 
We identify, analyze and forecast the key demographic, social, technology and business trends and shifts impacting small business formation and operations. 
 
While we research the entire small business sector, much of our work is focused on very small businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees), micro businesses (those with fewer than 5 employees) and solopreneurs (those working independently without traditional employees).
 
Our Philosophy 
 
We believe making our research public is useful to the small business community, provides thought leadership benefits for our clients and increases the impact of our work.  We also collectively gain from the feedback, debate and input that is generated by public release. 
 
While we work with our clients on a confidential basis, our view is everyone benefits when small business research is put into the public domain. 
 
Our Methods 
 
Emergent Research uses a mix of research and forecast methods including quantitative and qualitative surveys, expert interviews, focus groups, workshops, and ethnographic research to provide our clients and the public fact-based information on small businesses.
 
Our Deliverables
 
We provide a wide range of deliverables depending on the needs of our clients.  These include reports, workshops, custom presentations and on-going consulting support.
 
Our Clients
 
Our clients are a mix of corporations, government agencies and non-profits.  We also assist a limited number of early stage firms with business planning, fund raising and marketing. 
 
 

Emergent Research in the News

  • howstuffworks: The Pros and Cons of Coworking Spaces
  • Washington Post: ‘My happy place.’ Workspaces for women rise in #MeToo era
  • MarketWatch: How some coworking spaces are disrupting the child care industry
  • Quartz: It’s time to take remote co-living seriously
  • Spend Matters: Number of U.S. Freelancers Dropped in 2018, But Talent Pool Still Deep
  • Considerable: Start a business after age 50: how to do it right
  • BBC: The people changing retirement with side hustles
  • Forbes: How Ready Is Your Organization For The Freelance Revolution?
  • The Grocer Magazine: Technology can offer gig economy workers a real connection with employers
  • Forbes: Digital Nomadism Goes Mainstream
  • Forbes: 57 Million U.S. Workers Are Part Of The Gig Economy
  • CNBC: The new outsourcing hot spots: More developing nation firms tap workers in US, Canada, Europe
  • Forbes: How To Attract Top Freelancers: Five Things You Must Do
  • Entrepreneur: Declaration of Independents: Thinking Beyond the Gig Economy
  • Inc.: How Small Businesses Can Thrive in the Age of AI
  • CBS News: Co-working: The new way to work
  • Reuters: Industrious raises $80 million to double coworking sites in 2018
  • AllWork: Corporate Coworking And Niche Spaces Are The Future Of The Workspace Industry: A Q&A With Steve King
  • Harvard Business Review: Coworking Is Not About Workspace — It’s About Feeling Less Lonely
  • New York Times: Starting Up a Business, With Little Ones Close By