Although small-business employees worked more hours, compensation rose and employers added 30,000 jobs in November, revenue dipped 0.3 percent in October for the eighth straight month, according to the Small Business Employment and Revenue Indexes by Intuit Inc.

The study finds that employment grew by 0.14 percent in November for an annualized growth rate of 1.7 percent while average monthly compensation increased by 0.5 percent to $14, and average monthly hours worked rose by 0.11 percent to six minutes.

"The results are definitely mixed for small businesses," says Susan Woodward, the economist who worked with Intuit to create the indexes. "We began seeing some employment gains in April 2010, but between March and September 2012, the numbers began to drop again. The good news is they are back up for October and November."