• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, March 21, 2011

Marketing to small-business owners may be getting easier, according to the latest survey from Office Depot: More small businesses say they are expecting higher sales and profits in the months ahead, and expect to spend more money, as well.

More than half of the small- and mid-sized businesses the retailer surveys say the economy is headed in a positive direction, with 56% expecting it to improve. As a result, 70% are forecasting a jump in their sales, and 67% to see an increase in their profits. But there are still some big concerns, with 80% worried about inflation, and 74% fretful about financing. And 80% say they do not expect to make any new hires in the next six months.

"Small businesses remain the lifeblood of the economy, and while our survey shows that many are predicting growth this year, we continue to see them raise concerns about the costs of doing business," said Neil Austrian, Interim Chairman and CEO for Office Depot, in a release on the survey results.