What's Next for Small Businesses in 2012?

It'd be an understatement to say that 2011 was a big year for America's small businesses. Between debt battles and ceilings caving in, protests in Washington and on Wall Street and politicians coming and going, building towards one of the most dramatic elections in recent history, there's plenty to look back on. But what do small businesses have to look forward to in 2012? And can they look forward to good news?

Small businesses look to be going into 2012 with a rather hesitant and cautious demeanor. And who could blame them? The economic stability of the country has been tumultuous at best over the course of the year, with small business confidence rising and falling like a roller coaster from month to month. With the economy so fragile, one can only imagine that small businesses will continue to run a tight ship while utilizing cheaper and free tools to help grow their customer base.

For example, the prediction that Social Media activity would increase in 2011 certainly turned out to be true, especially with the dawn of Google Plus. Such free tools seem to be increasingly becoming the backbone of the modern small business who must operate swiftly if they want to thrive in an economy that's not afraid to swallow them whole.

Hiring will most likely continue to creep for the country, which serves as both an advantage and disadvantage for smaller firms. An advantage in a sense that new hires are seemingly easier to come by, although an inability to hire more resources also signals an inability to grow. While keeping current employees may not be as much of a concern for small businesses now, a healthier hiring climate will certainly raise the issue. At the present, however, it simply isn't there.

Because of these facts, many small business probably won't be shifting their focus in the new year. With many reporting losses and most simply getting by, making it through 2012 will be seen as an accomplishment by many.

There's always reason to hold out hope for what the future holds, and small business owners are doing just that. They're also doing it in the face of a Presidential election.

One cannot talk about 2012 without discussing in detail the Election which remains a huge talking point among small business owners and the American public at large.

President Obama has received his share of flack from the public on both sides, with seemingly low approval ratings that recall memories of the 2004 Election in which George W. Bush entered as the seemingly unpopular candidate. It should be noted, however, we are less than a year out from Election Day and the Republican candidate still hasn't been determined. It's building to be an incredibly dramatic race and it's seemingly clear that Obama won't manage the sweep that he did four year ago. Long story short, it looks to be a close.

Right now the leaders in the Republican field look to be Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, with Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain peripherally involved as well. Much has changed in the pool since Donald Trump heralded himself as the number one candidate earlier this year. It often seems that the likelihood of these respective candidates gaining the nomination shifts from day to day. Newt Gingrich has seemed to have had bit of a renaissance in recent weeks, meanwhile it's speculated that Herman Caine is planning an exit strategy from candidacy.

Both Obama and whoever ends up receiving the Republican nomination will have plenty to do to win over the American small business community. Both the President and the Republican-led Congress have come under great scrutiny in the past when it comes to dealing with the economy, and the Election serves as an opportunity for someone to truly take a stand. It seems that whoever wins over the small businesses may very well win the election. Will it be Obama or his challenger? Only time can tell.

There's much in store for small businesses in the coming year. While 2012 has been heralded by some conspiracy theorists as the year of the Apocalypse, we can only hope that it's year when the economy truly makes its upturn in America.