Small business owners' optimism is at an all-time high

Small business owners are feeling more optimistic than ever.

A Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index poll published Tuesday found that small business owners are more optimistic than ever before in the 15-year history of the survey. Those polled say they are feeling good about their current financial situation, cash flow, and future business outlook.

The index score hit +118 in the last quarter, the poll found, higher than earlier in the year when the score was around +106. The previous record was back in 2006, when the score was +114. Most small business owners feel they're on good footing financially: Seventy-eight percent of those polled said their current financial situation is very or somewhat good, and 77 percent said they foresee very or somewhat good cash flow in the upcoming year.

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While many of the small business owners polled said their biggest issue is finding qualified new hires, they are predicting more hiring in their future. About 35 percent of respondents said they're anticipating an increase in the number of jobs at their business.

The poll was conducted July 11-18, reaching 604 random U.S. small business owners by phone. The margin of error is 4 percentage points. See more poll results at Gallup.