According to The Business Journals, IPad is the fastest growing technology among Small business owners. A national study released by the company reveals how critical the new technology is among small to mid-sized business (SMB) owners. According to the findings, iPad usage has nearly quadrupled in the SMB market over the past year, growing from nine percent in 2010 to 34 percent in 2011.

Familiarity with the iPad has reached high levels with 75 percent of SMB owners report being “very or somewhat familiar” with the device.

Godfrey Phillips, Vice President of Research at The Business Journals, hypothesizes that the growth of the iPad is part of a larger trend amongst (SMB) owners “Our research has shown that for SMB owners, productivity and efficiency, which used to be the central benefits of technology, are now declining in importance compared to accessibility. Now, it’s crucial that business owners have access to their business information and data, anytime and anywhere. The iPad, as well as smartphones and cloud computing, are all part of this new trend and are experiencing significant growth as a result of that need.”

The study shows 34% of iPad users in the SMB community are tech-savvy and financially successful. 72 percent have a college education and an annual household income average of $176,000. Their companies are well-established, having existed for an average of 28 years and averaging $9.2M in annual sales.

The study will be available March 31st and constitutes a nationally representative sample of over 1,400 business owners, CEOs and presidents of companies with 5-499 employees. It provides insights into the SMB market and identifies leading business brands, segmented opportunities, and details annual expenditures, economic viewpoints, technology and social marketing trends.