Survey: Enterprise and Hertz, Favorite Among Small and Home Businesses

    ORADELL, N.J., Sept. 6 The latest TECHNOMETRICA study
reveals that among Small and Home offices (SOHOs), Enterprise is not only one
of the best-known car rental companies (59% familiarity), but also among the
most well-liked (85% of those familiar are favorable towards the brand).
Hertz is also well known among SOHOs (52% familiarity), and equally liked by
those SOHOs familiar with the brand (84% favorability).  The study focuses on
SOHOs' perceptions and usage of leading car rental companies that include
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
Other key study findings:

     *  Nearly half of all SOHOs have rented a car for business in the last
        year (46%).

     *  Among SOHO renters, the highest levels of brand usage are with
        Enterprise (34%) and Hertz (32%).  Budget and Avis are the next most
        frequently used car rental brands (25% and 20%, respectively).

     *  SOHO rental car customers most frequently rent at airport locations.
        Local rentals are rare.  Hertz is the leader when it comes to airport
        rentals, while Enterprise runs away with the local rental market.

     *  What do SOHOs consider important when deciding on a car rental
        company?  For SOHOs, pricing/rates and location carry the most
        influence when it comes to choosing a company.

    The study also addresses the impact of small business rental programs,
brand loyalty, and crossover usage.

    Methodology
    The sample was drawn from the Small Business Insights Panel(SM), a group
of 5,000 small and home-based business owners/senior executives who have
consented to participate in research studies.

    Small Businesses are defined as having less than 50 employees & annual
revenues under $20 million.  Home Businesses have less than 20 employees & an
address matching their residence.

    A total of 935 panelists participated in the survey. Only responses from
the 412 qualified as past-year business car renters (44%) are included in this
release.