Survey finds entrepreneurs juggling 5 jobs to keep things running

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MAY BE RUNNING THEIR COMPANIES, BUT MANY FEEL LIKE THEY’RE ALSO WORKING FIVE OTHER JOBS.

A NEW SURVEY OF 1,000 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM ADOBE EXPRESS FINDS ENTREPRENEURS ARE JUGGLING ROLES LIKE MARKETER, BOOKKEEPER, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REP – OFTEN ALL IN THE SAME DAY.

MANY SAY THEY SPEND MORE TIME ON CREATIVE AND MARKETING TASKS THAN THEY EVER EXPECTED WHEN STARTING THEIR BUSINESS.

THE RESEARCH ALSO FOUND MANY OWNERS DON’T FEEL FULLY QUALIFIED FOR ALL THE TASKS THEY HANDLE, BUT STILL PUSH THROUGH WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, SUGGESTS A-I TOOLS ARE INCREASINGLY HELPING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAVE TIME AND BUILD CONFIDENCE IN AREAS OUTSIDE THEIR EXPERTISE.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? COULD YOU RUN A BUSINESS WHILE WEARING FIVE DIFFERENT ‘HATS’? MAYBE YOU ALREADY DO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

TOP FIVE TASKS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MOST WANT TO HAND OFF:

1. FINANCE & ACCOUNTING (BOOKKEEPING, INVOICING, PAYROLL ETC.) — 25%
2. MARKETING — 21%
3. SOCIAL MEDIA — 18%
4. SALES & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE — 14%
5. OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION (SCHEDULING, PROCESSING AND FULFILMENT ETC.) — 11%

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 1,000 American small business owners who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Adobe Express and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 29, 2026 and May 3, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.