SmallBusinessNewz

People all over the country will load up the minivan and haul the family from one place to another for a few days of vacation over the next three months. Small business owners are no exception, as they too seek respite from the daily grind.

The American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor found in its survey of small businesses that 59 percent planned to hit the highways and airports this summer. The same percentage said this in 2007.

"The fact that most small business owners will vacation again this summer may not seem so remarkable, until you factor in that 56% are experiencing cash flow issues and 86% are being squeezed by rising energy and gas costs," said Alice Bredin, American Express OPEN small business advisor, in the report.

Stress pushes people to plan some time off. American Express said 34 percent of its survey who decide to go on vacation do so when they have had enough, or are otherwise stressed.

The percentage of summer vacationers could be driven by other factors. Someone running Blade's House of Lawn Maintenance probably won't want to be away from lucrative summer clients. Oscar's Holiday Ornaments would be in little demand in July, and can plan a summer break more freely.