If companies' blueprints for expansion are a reliable indicator of their plans to enhance employee benefits needed to recruit and retain workers, then 2017 should be a good year for agents and advisors serving the small-business markets.

The reason for this optimism: the "2017 Small Business Outlook" report, published by Chicago-based Insureon's Small Business Institute. Insureon, which sells business insurance, said it polled 1,006 small-business owners using Google Surveys.

Insureon found that 82% of small-business owners plan to grow their companies in 2017. Among the actions to be taken:

• 58% expect to buy new equipment or furniture.
• 33% plan to hire an employee.
• 23% will move to a new location.
• 30% will offer a new service.
• 34% plan to sell a new product.

The report observes, however, differences in growth plans by gender. For example, of the 18% of small-business owners who have no growth plans, nearly 7 in 10 (68%) are women. That equates to 25% of all women business owners who have no growth plans, more than the double the 11% of male-owned small businesses in the same camp.