SMB Tech Spending Plans by Industry

April 23, 2026

Bredin's recent survey of 500 U.S. SMB principals reveals technology investment plans across key industry groups. Professional services firms are poised to boost spending the most, with nearly half expecting to increase their tech investments this year, compared to 44% in retail and wholesale and just 31% in construction/manufacturing.

‍2026 SMB Tech Spending Plans by Industry‍

‍How do you expect your technology spending to change over the next 12 months?

One finding stood out: AI and machine learning tools rank as the top planned investment across every industry. Beyond that shared priority, the rankings vary by sector.

Professional Services        

  1. AI and machine learning tools
  2. Hardware refresh (computers, servers, networking)
  3. E-commerce and digital sales platforms

Retail/Wholesale        

  1. AI and machine learning tools 
  2. Customer relationship management (CRM)
  3. E-commerce and digital sales platforms

Construction/Manufacturing        

  1. AI and machine learning tools 
  2. Customer relationship management (CRM)
  3. Mobile and remote work solutions

‍2026 SMB Tech Spending Priorities by Industry‍

‍Which tech spending areas will you prioritize in the next 12 months? Select all that apply.

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