Small-Business Conditions

 Print  |  E-mail  | -- Font | ++ Font | rss.gif
Northern California Small-Business Conditions, September 2005
09/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Northern California Small-Business ConditionsSMsurvey for September 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the California business environment, including government officials, bankers, media outlets, community organizations, etc., to be highly supportive, supportive, neutral, not supportive or not at all supportive of small business?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Highly Supportive 12 3.4 3.4 3.4
Supportive 106 30.1 30.1 33.5
Neutral 104 29.5 29.5 63.1
Not Supportive 62 17.6 17.6 80.7
Not at All Supportive 23 6.5 6.5 87.2
DK 44 12.5 12.5 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q2. Do you believe that business conditions in your market area are CURRENTLY very good, good, just OK, poor, or very poor?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very good 50 14.2 14.2 14.2
Good 142 40.3 40.3 54.5
Just OK 124 35.2 35.2 89.8
Poor 30 8.5 8.5 98.3
Very Poor 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 23 6.5 6.5 6.5
Slowly Improving 65 18.5 18.5 25.0
Improving 16 4.5 4.5 29.5
Stable 195 55.4 55.4 84.9
Deteriorating 6 1.7 1.7 86.6
Slowly Deteriorating 32 9.1 9.1 95.7
Rapidly Deteriorating 8 2.3 2.3 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q4. Over the last three months, have you upgraded the technology or changed the processes you use in order to make your business more productive?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 163 46.3 46.3 46.3
No 186 52.8 52.8 99.1
DK 2 .6 .6 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q5. Over the last three months have you made one or more expenditures to purchase capital equipment or business vehicles, or to up-grade your facilities?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 155 44.0 44.0 44.0
No 195 55.4 55.4 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q6. Over the last three months, have you made one or more expenditures directly or indirectly to train or upgrade the skills of one or more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 135 38.4 38.4 38.4
No 214 60.8 60.8 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 81 23.0 23.0 23.0
No 266 75.6 75.6 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q8. Over the last three months, has your average per employee payroll cost risen, fallen or stayed about the same?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Risen 69 19.6 19.6 19.6
Fallen 23 6.5 6.5 26.1
Stayed the same 244 69.3 69.3 95.5
DK 13 3.7 3.7 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 182 51.7 51.7 51.7
Benefits 88 25.0 25.0 76.7
Both the same 20 5.7 5.7 82.4
Neither 37 10.5 10.5 92.9
DK 21 6.0 6.0 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q10. In the last three months, have the AVERAGE prices you paid for the goods and services purchased for your business increased, decreased or stayed about the same?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Increased a Lot 50 14.2 14.2 14.2
Increased Somewhat 118 33.5 33.5 47.7
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 49.7
About the Same 166 47.2 47.2 96.9
Decreased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 97.7
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 98.6
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q11. In the last three months, have you increased, decreased or kept your AVERAGE selling prices about the same?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Increased a Lot 13 3.7 3.7 3.7
Increased Somewhat 64 18.2 18.2 21.9
Increased [no amount] 6 1.7 1.7 23.6
About the Same 244 69.3 69.3 92.9
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 93.2
Decreased Somewhat 9 2.6 2.6 95.7
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 96.6
DK 11 3.1 3.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q12. Which BEST describes your situation over the last three months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid All of my credit needs were satisfied. 127 36.1 36.1 36.1
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 27 7.7 7.7 43.8
I did not want to borrow. 177 50.3 50.3 94.0
DK 21 6.0 6.0 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 51 14.5 14.5 14.5
Good 150 42.6 42.6 57.1
Just OK 105 29.8 29.8 86.9
Poor 30 8.5 8.5 95.5
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 96.9
DK 10 2.8 2.8 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 25 7.1 7.1 7.1
Good 136 38.6 38.6 45.7
Just OK 126 35.8 35.8 81.5
Poor 41 11.6 11.6 93.2
Very Poor 10 2.8 2.8 96.0
DK 11 3.1 3.1 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q15. Could you increase sales by 10 percent WITHOUT purchasing new equipment or hiring more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 190 54.0 54.0 54.0
No 136 38.6 38.6 92.6
DK 24 6.8 6.8 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q16. At this time are you actively involved or investing in the startup of another business, separate and distinct from this one?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 36 10.2 10.2 10.2
No 307 87.2 87.2 97.4
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months? Are they...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 63 17.9 17.9 17.9
Good 181 51.4 51.4 69.3
Just OK 90 25.6 25.6 94.9
Poor 10 2.8 2.8 97.7
Very Poor 1 .3 .3 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q18. Why do you think so? Is your optimism principally due to...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 103 29.3 42.2 42.2
Lower costs 9 2.6 3.7 45.9
Price increases 8 2.3 3.3 49.2
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 36 10.2 14.8 63.9
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 11 3.1 4.5 68.4
SEASONAL WEATHER 17 4.8 7.0 75.4
Other 38 10.8 15.6 91.0
DK 20 5.7 8.2 99.2
Ref 2 .6 .8 100.0
Total 244 69.3 100.0
Missing System 108 30.7

Total 352 100.0

Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q19. Why do you think so? Is your pessimism principally due to...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 2 .6 18.2 18.2
Cost increases 1 .3 9.1 27.3
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 2 .6 18.2 45.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 1 .3 9.1 54.5
Other 4 1.1 36.4 90.9
DK 1 .3 9.1 100.0
Total 11 3.1 100.0
Missing System 341 96.9

Total 352 100.0

Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

Q20. I am going to read you a list of possible business problems. What is the single most important problem facing your business today?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Weak Sales 39 11.1 11.1 11.1
Taxes 35 9.9 9.9 21.0
Employee quality or costs 41 11.6 11.6 32.7
Insurance 68 19.3 19.3 52.0
Big business competition 47 13.4 13.4 65.3
Inflation and rising prices 53 15.1 15.1 80.4
Credit availability or interest rates 11 3.1 3.1 83.5
Regulations Red tape 21 6.0 6.0 89.5
Other 6 1.7 1.7 91.2
DK 13 3.7 3.7 94.9
Ref 10 2.8 2.8 97.7
NONE NO PROBLEMS 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

SS1. In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that California is headed? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very satisfied 35 9.9 9.9 9.9
Somewhat satisfied 153 43.5 43.5 53.4
Not too satisfied 77 21.9 21.9 75.3
Not at all satisfied 53 15.1 15.1 90.3
DK 30 8.5 8.5 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

SS5. Which best describes your long-term intentions for business growth? Would you like to...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Grow rapidly 73 20.7 20.7 20.7
Grow slowly 171 48.6 48.6 69.3
Stay about the same 89 25.3 25.3 94.6
Consolidate some 4 1.1 1.1 95.7
DK 12 3.4 3.4 99.1
Refuse 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0

Arrow BlackReturn to the top.
 Print  |  E-mail  | -- Font | ++ Font | rss.gif