May 28, 2026
Small business owners are opening their wallets wider for marketing in 2026, according to multiple industry surveys published this spring, even as many admit they aren't sure the extra spend is paying off.
A Constant Contact survey of 1,500 small business owners across five countries found that 68% expect their marketing budgets to increase this year, and 74% expect to spend more time on marketing, as reported by MarketingProfs. Separately, a Clutch survey of 337 marketing professionals found 60% of small businesses plan to increase marketing and advertising budgets in 2026, with content marketing and digital advertising named as the biggest areas of new investment.
A report from marketing publication DIY Marketers, drawing on HubSpot's Small Business Trends data, framed the gap starkly: while 68% of small businesses are raising budgets, fewer than one in five feel confident that spending is actually working. The report points to inflation and tightened household budgets as part of the disconnect — customers are more price-sensitive and skeptical of overt sales messaging than in prior years, meaning more spend doesn't automatically translate into more revenue if the underlying strategy and offer aren't right.
Channel allocation data from LocaliQ's 2026 small business survey shows where the new dollars are going: 53% of small businesses plan to increase video marketing investment, and 47% plan to increase both search and social media advertising. Notably, 52% of small businesses report a monthly marketing budget under $1,000, underscoring how much of this activity happens without a dedicated marketing hire — 50% of small businesses surveyed have no employee whose role is dedicated to marketing.
For owners trying to decide where a limited budget should actually go, channel-by-channel benchmark data is more useful than headline spending trends. Our free Business Marketing Blueprint Generator turns your specific budget, business type, and goal into a personalized channel allocation and 90-day action plan in under a minute.