Small businesses may be hurting in the current economy, but they still plan to invest in IT, no matter how bad things may have gotten.

In fact, while most SMB’s think their IT spending won’t change despite the downturn, there’s a significant group that plans to up its outlay for IT needs.

According to the latest SMB Online Experience research from Compass Intelligence, leading players like Dell, AT&T and IBM are truly “SMB-savvy” online.

Compass Intelligence’s research also shows that small businesses are negatively affected, but not defeated by the current US recession.  The key finding is that the majority of small business IT buyers have remained positive about their IT spending during the most troubling and uncertain months of this recession, with 42% of those surveyed in March of this year expecting to keep their IT spending unchanged in 2009, while another 20% expect spending to increase.

This is slightly down from research completed in November of last year.   As the economy stabilizes and the various stimulus packages do their job, Compass Intelligence analysts believe small & mid-sized business spirits and spending will start to rise later in 2009.

“Our research shows that roughly 60% of US SMBs have been negatively affected to some degree by this recession. But, most still expect to invest in technology this year. That’s because the spirit of the American Entrepreneur is not easily broken – they are a powerful force of economic recovery and, in good years, a catalyst for growth,” says Kneko Burney, Chief Strategist of Compass Intelligence.  Mrs. Burney adds, “Understanding this uniquely indomitable spirit will help larger companies, like those in this research, tap into the massive and growing SMB market opportunity.”

For a free video and summary of the report, visit here. Or you can pay $3500 to get the full report here.

Tags: Compass Intelligence, IT spending, report, small business, study, survey