Small-Business Conditions

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Central California Small-Business Conditions, September 2005
09/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Central 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 8 2.3 2.3 2.3
Supportive 112 31.9 31.9 34.2
Neutral 94 26.8 26.8 61.0
Not Supportive 69 19.7 19.7 80.6
Not at All Supportive 36 10.3 10.3 90.9
DK 30 8.5 8.5 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 56 16.0 16.0 16.0
Good 149 42.5 42.5 58.4
Just OK 109 31.1 31.1 89.5
Poor 20 5.7 5.7 95.2
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 34 9.7 9.7 9.7
Slowly Improving 78 22.2 22.2 31.9
Improving 14 4.0 4.0 35.9
Stable 177 50.4 50.4 86.3
Deteriorating 5 1.4 1.4 87.7
Slowly Deteriorating 30 8.5 8.5 96.3
Rapidly Deteriorating 8 2.3 2.3 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 150 42.7 42.7 42.7
No 198 56.4 56.4 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 142 40.5 40.5 40.5
No 203 57.8 57.8 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 152 43.3 43.3 43.3
No 196 55.8 55.8 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 80 22.8 22.8 22.8
No 271 77.2 77.2 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 19.7 19.7 19.7
Fallen 15 4.3 4.3 23.9
Stayed the same 247 70.4 70.4 94.3
DK 17 4.8 4.8 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 179 51.0 51.0 51.0
Benefits 93 26.5 26.5 77.5
Both the same 25 7.1 7.1 84.6
Neither 27 7.7 7.7 92.3
DK 27 7.7 7.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 70 19.9 19.9 19.9
Increased Somewhat 116 33.0 33.0 53.0
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 55.3
About the Same 143 40.7 40.7 96.0
Decreased Somewhat 5 1.4 1.4 97.4
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 70 19.9 19.9 23.6
Increased [no amount] 5 1.4 1.4 25.1
About the Same 242 68.9 68.9 94.0
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 94.6
Decreased Somewhat 7 2.0 2.0 96.6
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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. 139 39.6 39.6 39.6
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 19 5.4 5.4 45.0
I did not want to borrow. 171 48.7 48.7 93.7
DK 19 5.4 5.4 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 72 20.5 20.5 20.5
Good 139 39.6 39.6 60.1
Just OK 96 27.4 27.4 87.5
Poor 18 5.1 5.1 92.6
Very Poor 8 2.3 2.3 94.9
DK 11 3.1 3.1 98.0
Ref 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 41 11.7 11.7 11.7
Good 123 35.0 35.0 46.7
Just OK 127 36.2 36.2 82.9
Poor 31 8.8 8.8 91.7
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 94.9
DK 12 3.4 3.4 98.3
Ref 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q15. Could you increase sales by 10 percent WITHOUT purchasing new equipment or hiring more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 183 52.1 52.1 52.1
No 142 40.5 40.5 92.6
DK 20 5.7 5.7 98.3
Ref 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 40 11.4 11.4 11.4
No 301 85.8 85.8 97.2
DK 6 1.7 1.7 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months? Are they...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 77 21.9 21.9 21.9
Good 170 48.4 48.4 70.4
Just OK 80 22.8 22.8 93.2
Poor 9 2.6 2.6 95.7
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 97.7
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q18. Why do you think so? Is your optimism principally due to...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 96 27.4 38.9 38.9
Lower costs 8 2.3 3.2 42.1
Price increases 7 2.0 2.8 44.9
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 41 11.7 16.6 61.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 11 3.1 4.5 66.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 27 7.7 10.9 76.9
Other 33 9.4 13.4 90.3
DK 23 6.6 9.3 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 247 70.4 100.0
Missing System 104 29.6

Total 351 100.0

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 1 .3 6.3 6.3
Cost increases 4 1.1 25.0 31.3
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 31.3 62.5
SEASONAL WEATHER 2 .6 12.5 75.0
Other 2 .6 12.5 87.5
DK 2 .6 12.5 100.0
Total 16 4.6 100.0
Missing System 335 95.4

Total 351 100.0

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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 25 7.1 7.1 7.1
Taxes 34 9.7 9.7 16.8
Employee quality or costs 36 10.3 10.3 27.1
Insurance 68 19.4 19.4 46.4
Big business competition 41 11.7 11.7 58.1
Inflation and rising prices 40 11.4 11.4 69.5
Credit availability or interest rates 15 4.3 4.3 73.8
Regulations Red tape 34 9.7 9.7 83.5
Other 16 4.6 4.6 88.0
DK 17 4.8 4.8 92.9
Ref 14 4.0 4.0 96.9
NONE NO PROBLEMS 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 27 7.7 7.7 7.7
Somewhat satisfied 145 41.3 41.3 49.0
Not too satisfied 84 23.9 23.9 72.9
Not at all satisfied 68 19.4 19.4 92.3
DK 22 6.3 6.3 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS5. Which best describes your long-term intentions for business growth? Would you like to...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Grow rapidly 65 18.5 18.5 18.5
Grow slowly 179 51.0 51.0 69.5
Stay about the same 78 22.2 22.2 91.7
Consolidate some 9 2.6 2.6 94.3
DK 14 4.0 4.0 98.3
Refuse 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0

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