Chase Survey of Top Small Business Owners Shows Nearly Half Still Planning To Add Positions

WILMINGTON, Del.-(Business Wire)-September 25, 2009 - Nearly half of small businesses say they plan to add positions despite the current economic environment, according to a survey released today by Chase Card Services, the credit card division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM).

The survey queried CEOs and senior executives on the prominent Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest growing U.S. companies about their outlook on the economy, employment, general growth, and critical issues to their business, such as access to capital and cash flow management.

Specific findings revealed that:

Economic growth is on the horizon

49 percent said they are still adding positions despite the economy
76 percent said they believe the U.S. economy and their business will be doing better in three to six months
59 percent are expanding into new markets and nearly as many (54 percent) say they are producing more revenue among existing customers
80 percent of small businesses surveyed described their business as pursuing a moderate or aggressive growth strategy
65 percent say that small businesses are very important in leading the country out of the recession

Capital needs are more important than ever

Two in five (39 percent) say that gaining access to capital or credit is one of the top three most important issues facing their business
One in three (33 percent) say that monitoring and managing cash flow is the most important issue facing their business

“It’s encouraging to learn that small businesses are planning to expand in multiple ways during such a difficult environment,” said Richard Quigley, president of Ink from Chase at Chase Card Services. “We strive to propel small businesses on the way forward, which is why we engineered our new suite of Ink business cards to address their fundamental financial needs for day-to-day operations – access to capital and improved cash flow.”

Inc. magazine editor Jane Berenson said, “These survey participants own and manage the most dynamic companies in the nation, and their responses bolster hope for economic growth in the coming months. Their ingenuity and ambition are an inspiration for all of us.”

Unveiled this week, Ink^SM from Chase, is a new a suite of business cards developed specifically for small businesses. This new business card portfolio includes four distinct cards – Ink Bold, Ink, Ink Plus and Ink Cash – that deliver solutions based on a small business owner’s spending habits, cash flow needs and the desire to earn and redeem valuable rewards based on their preferences.

All Ink business cards are accepted at twice as many locations worldwide as American Express, supported by Chase’s 5,200 bank branches and their trusted staffs, and are designed to meet the individual needs of small business owners.

The four Ink from Chase cards are:

Ink^SM Bold – Chase’s first pay-in-full charge card with no interest charges is designed for small business owners who want robust purchasing power and spending capacity that adjusts dynamically, giving them the purchase power needed to meet their businesses’ changing needs. With Ink Bold, small business owners will earn premium rewards from business purchases with no limit on how many points may be earned, the points do not expire and rewards points are worth 25 percent more when redeemed for air travel through Ultimate Rewards^SM. Cardmembers can earn an annual spend bonus of up to 47,500 points, and they also have direct access to Chase business card specialists. Ink Bold has no annual fee for the first year and $95 thereafter.
Ink^SM – Developed for small business owners seeking business-sized credit limits, flexible payment options and online expense management tools with the ability to earn rewards from business purchases with no limit on how many points may be earned and the points do not expire. Ink has no annual fee.
Ink^SM Plus –The solution for small business owners seeking business-sized credit limits, flexible payment options, online expense management tools and the ability to earn rewards from business purchases, including extra travel benefits with no limit on how many points may be earned and the points do not expire. Rewards points also are worth 25 percent more when redeemed for air travel through Ultimate Rewards^SM and cardmembers can earn an annual spend bonus of up to 25,000 points. Ink Plus has no annual fee for the first year and $60 thereafter.
Ink^SM Cash – Designed for small business owners seeking unlimited cash back and accelerated earnings on everyday business purchases: dining, fuel, home improvement and office supplies. Ink Cash provides business-sized credit limits, flexible payment options and online expense management tools. Ink Cash has no annual fee.

About the Inc. 5000

The Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2005, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales. Additionally, they have to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of December 31, 2008. Revenue in 2005 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2008 must have been at least $2 million. The top 10 percent of companies on the list comprise the Inc. 500, now in its 28th year.

Editor’s Note: The online survey queried 168 members of the annual Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest growing companies between September 10 and 14, 2009.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.0 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries, and the company has issued approximately 152 million credit cards in the United States and Canada. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers and businesses in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan, Chase, and WaMu brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

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