Proving it's better to give than to receive, more small-business owners are planning to offer holiday bonuses this year, according to a survey by online marketing firm Constant Contact.

In a survey of 2,000 Constant Contact customers, 42 percent said they will give holiday bonuses to employees, up from 39 percent in 2006. By contrast, the number of small businesses planning holiday parties is unchanged at about half.

"Considering their optimism about upcoming strong holiday sales, it's not surprising to see small-business owners sharing their success and acknowledging the impact their employees have on their businesses," Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact, said in a statement.

Although the survey found overall confidence in the economy had declined since last year, 63 percent of small-business owners said they expected to have a strong holiday season.