Each year, we survey businesses to better understand the real-world challenges they face and how we, alongside financial institutions (FIs) and entrepreneur support organizations, can help them succeed. Our 2024 survey results highlight a familiar landscape: securing funding remains the most pressing issue for small businesses.

However, within these challenges lie real opportunities—especially for businesses equipped with the right tools and support. That is where innovative solutions like Fundica come in, helping to bridge the gap between small businesses and the funding they need to thrive.

Who We Surveyed 

Our first 2024 survey gathered insights from 108 small businesses, ranging from solo founders to established teams with over 50 employees. More than half (50.93%) were founded in 2022 or later, and the majority reported early-stage revenues, with 69.44% earning less than $150K annually. Respondents represented a broad range of industries—including agriculture, medical and pharmaceutical, and finance—and diverse backgrounds, ensuring the findings reflect the real challenges and priorities of small businesses at various stages of growth. 

The Growing Challenge of Securing Funding

Small businesses continue to face significant hurdles, especially when faced with economic uncertainty and rising costs.

Our survey reveals that securing funding has become an even greater struggle over the years, with 56% of respondents identifying it as their primary concern—a steady increase from 35% in 2022 and 42% in 2023. As financial pressures mount, businesses are looking for guidance and resources to help them access the capital they need to grow.

When asked what they value most in a financial institution, business owners emphasized two key factors: knowledgeable advisors (28%) and speed of access to funds (24%). This reinforces the important role financial institutions and ESOs must play—not just as capital providers, but as strategic partners offering informed, timely, and reliable support. The demand is clear: businesses need both expertise and efficiency to move forward with confidence.

Navigating Funding Priorities

Business owners are becoming increasingly selective and strategic in their search for funding. Our survey found that, when it comes to grants, 67% of respondents consider the likelihood of approval a top factor in their decision-making. For loans, 75% cited interest rates and fees as their primary concern.

In other words, not all funding is created equal—and business owners know it. They are not just looking for capital; they are looking for funding that is accessible, cost-effective, and aligned with their growth strategies.

How Fundica Empowers Financial Institutions

Understanding these challenges, Fundica partners with financial institutions to help them better serve their small business clients. Our AI-powered white-label funding search engine simplifies the process of finding relevant government and private funding—allowing financial institutions to deliver personalized funding recommendations to their businesses in minutes, with no integration required.

To measure our impact, we conducted a second survey of 330 Fundica users across a wide range of industries and business sizes. The results speak for themselves:

Over four annual surveys and thousands of responses, our tool has consistently been recommended by 90% of users.

Strengthen Your Small Business Offering

Fundica is trusted by leading financial institutions across North America to deliver smarter, faster funding support to small businesses—becoming a one-stop source for funding information and a forward-thinking partner in their clients’ success. By white-labelling our AI-powered platform, FIs can offer tailored funding recommendations, attract new prospects, and grow deposits—with no integration required.

Ready to strengthen your small business offering? Contact us today to learn how Fundica can add value to your organization.