Meta today released a new study examining the health of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) --  with a focus on minority-led and women-led companies -- in the wake of the pandemic and other economic challenges. 

The State of Small Business Report shows Georgia entrepreneurs are operating above the national average, with 83 percent operational or engaged in revenue-generating activities, placing them five percent above the national average.

The data also shows Georgia has more woman-owned operational businesses performing significantly better than the national average with 85 percent reporting they are operational.

High points of the Meta study:

• Only 28 percent of Georgia small businesses expect cash flow challenges, down 13 percent from July. 

• Only 52 percent of Georgia small businesses feel confident in their ability to stay open for at least 12 months, ten percent lower than the national average and down seven percent since July. 

• Confidence may seem low when projecting 12 months in advance, SMBs feel more confident than they did in July.

While progress has been slow during the pandemic, Georgia is climbing out of it, and the economic outlook looks a lot better than it did over the summer.

Click here for a one-pager on additional Georgia-specific data. You can also read the full State of Small Business Report here.