Slightly more than 46% of business people polled expect no to flat growth in the last half of 2007, according to a survey conducted by online opinion polling and market research service provider Vizu Corporation.

The poll was conducted among persons primarily located in North America, who are participants in websites and blogs in such diverse industries as law, high-tech, employment and financial services.

The remaining respondents reflected varying degrees of optimism, with 17% predicting 0-5% growth, over 19% predicting 5-10% growth, 8.5% predicting 10-20% growth, and just over 10% predicting growth over 20%.

“The less-than-enthusiastic outlook of the business community toward growth is an explicit example of companies needing strategic help in today’s economy,” said Chuck Orabutt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Business Partners, a Chicago-based business consulting firm.

“It can be difficult enough to deal with normal problems like cash flow, inventory and productivity, but combined with today’s increasingly difficult regulatory and tax environment, global competition, onerous energy and insurance costs and weakening economy, the challenges can become too much for many entrepreneurs to effectively resolve on their own. That is why we feel so strongly about our ability to help the small to mid-size business.”