Small companies feeling bullish. With the economy appearing to hum along nicely, small-business owners are an optimistic bunch heading into 2014, with many even feeling that next year could be a breakout one. In a survey, three-quarters of owners said they expect sales to improve in 2014, while the small-business "confidence index" has hit an 18-month high of 108.4 in December. Still, the horizon isn't devoid of clouds, including the roll out of Obamacare to small companies.