Dedicating more time to sales and marketing efforts is the top New Year's resolution for the small businesses polled in a new survey from TD Bank.

TD Bank's survey – which polled 300 small business owners within the bank's Maine to Florida footprint – asked for their top items on this year's holiday wish list. Sixty-one percent of small business owners said that increased sales would be the highest item on their list.

Other holiday wishes from surveyed small business owners included eliminating debt (13%), raises or bonuses for current employees (11%), new equipment or software (6%), more employees (5%), and a new or larger facility (4%). Only one percent said a raise or bonus for themselves would top their holiday wish list.
 
"With economic pressures likely to continue in 2012, it will be more important than ever for small businesses to find creative ways to grow sales and keep a close eye on cash flow," said Fred Graziano, Head of Regional Commercial Banking, Government Banking and Small Business. "Our teams of small business bankers are focused on freeing our customers from the hassles of managing their money, so they can spend more time on those crucial sales efforts."

Along with top holiday wishes, TD Bank's survey also asked small business owners to identify their top New Year's resolution for 2012. Twenty-six percent said spending more time on sales and marketing would be their top resolution – slightly more than eliminating company debt (22%). The remaining resolutions included improving cash flow (16%), developing a better business plan (13%), maintaining or increasing staffing levels (9 percent), working shorter hours (8%), and relying more on employees to handle daily operations (6%).