What SMBs Will Buy, Do, and Use in 2025

What are the top acquisition priorities for small and midsized businesses (SMBs) this year? To find out, Bredin recently surveyed 500 SMB principals.

Office hardware – PCs, laptops, or desktops – is the top 2025 acquisition objective for SMBs, regardless of headcount. After that, their priorities differ by size. The second priority of very small businesses (VSBs, with 1-19 employees) is to apply for a business credit card, followed by changing or upgrading internet access.

For small businesses (SBs, with 20-99 employees) the second acquisition priority is cellphones, followed by changing or upgrading internet access. For midsized businesses (MBs, with 100-1,000 employees), the second priority is to buy or lease property, equipment, or machinery, followed by applying for a business credit card.

SMB 12-Month Acquisition Plans

We also asked SMBs about their application use and adoption plans. VSBs are most likely to use storage/file backup, an office productivity suite, and a financial management application. They are most likely to acquire analytics, email marketing, and marketing automation apps.

SBs are most likely to use financial management, storage/file backup, and payroll applications. Their top acquisition priority is generative AI, followed by analytics and marketing automation.

MBs use financial management apps the most, followed by production management and an office productivity suite. They are most likely to adopt marketing automation, non-website analytics, design/illustration, and inventory and expense management applications.

SMB Application Use and Adoption Plans

Looking for actionable SMB insight? Bredin’s global research gives you high-value insights to improve your go-to-market, product, pricing, UX, and other strategies. We also generate uniquely valuable data for high-impact content, PR, social, and sales support programs.