A National Small Business Association survey of 1,500 business owners found that 40% of small firms use outside payroll services, reports the Wall Street Journal. There is a slight risk to outsourcing those tasks, especially if the payroll firm files for bankruptcy or fails to remit the collected taxes to the government.

 "With the overlapping impact of the phasing out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the post-2010 austerity measures forced by the House GOP, and the fade-out of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; the way in which the government spends will largely shift to GSA contracted companies," states John West , Senior Advisor at Government Market Expert, a boutique GSA and Government Procurement Marketing firm. He adds, "we've been helping small businesses of every kind sell to the government for the past 16 years as the rush to government procurement expands."

 Newtek Business Services, Inc., NASDAQ: NEWT, The Small Business Authority®, announced the release of the SB Authority Index of small business indicators for March 2013 reaching 117.31 points. Approved SBA gross lending volume and the Russell Microcap Index led the increase. The SB Authority index is up .20% from February 2013.

According to CNBC, it still remains hard for small businesses to get funding from traditional banks. Many small businesses are turning to smaller community banks or alternative funding in attempt to raise capital.