Small-Business Conditions

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Tampa Bay/West Coast Florida Small-Business Conditions, September 2005
09/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Tampa Bay/West Coast Florida Small-Business ConditionsSMsurvey for September 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Florida 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 17 4.9 4.9 4.9
Supportive 133 38.0 38.0 42.9
Neutral 111 31.7 31.7 74.6
Not Supportive 36 10.3 10.3 84.9
Not at All Supportive 23 6.6 6.6 91.4
DK 30 8.6 8.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 71 20.3 20.3 20.3
Good 175 50.0 50.0 70.3
Just OK 80 22.9 22.9 93.1
Poor 19 5.4 5.4 98.6
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 43 12.3 12.3 12.3
Slowly Improving 70 20.0 20.0 32.3
Improving 12 3.4 3.4 35.7
Stable 190 54.3 54.3 90.0
Deteriorating 3 .9 .9 90.9
Slowly Deteriorating 22 6.3 6.3 97.1
Rapidly Deteriorating 6 1.7 1.7 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 151 43.1 43.1 43.1
No 194 55.4 55.4 98.6
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 147 42.0 42.0 42.0
No 193 55.1 55.1 97.1
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 140 40.0 40.0 40.0
No 205 58.6 58.6 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 94 26.9 26.9 26.9
No 254 72.6 72.6 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 72 20.6 20.6 20.6
Fallen 14 4.0 4.0 24.6
Stayed the same 240 68.6 68.6 93.1
DK 23 6.6 6.6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 184 52.6 52.6 52.6
Benefits 98 28.0 28.0 80.6
Both the same 24 6.9 6.9 87.4
Neither 26 7.4 7.4 94.9
DK 16 4.6 4.6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 20.0 20.0 20.0
Increased Somewhat 115 32.9 32.9 52.9
Increased [no amount] 5 1.4 1.4 54.3
About the Same 150 42.9 42.9 97.1
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 97.4
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 16 4.6 4.6 4.6
Increased Somewhat 65 18.6 18.6 23.1
Increased [no amount] 4 1.1 1.1 24.3
About the Same 250 71.4 71.4 95.7
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 96.6
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 96.9
DK 10 2.9 2.9 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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. 137 39.1 39.1 39.1
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 16 4.6 4.6 43.7
I did not want to borrow. 172 49.1 49.1 92.9
DK 21 6.0 6.0 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 62 17.7 17.7 17.7
Good 159 45.4 45.4 63.1
Just OK 88 25.1 25.1 88.3
Poor 27 7.7 7.7 96.0
Very Poor 6 1.7 1.7 97.7
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Good 130 37.1 37.1 46.3
Just OK 130 37.1 37.1 83.4
Poor 32 9.1 9.1 92.6
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 95.1
DK 15 4.3 4.3 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 188 53.7 53.7 53.7
No 137 39.1 39.1 92.9
DK 23 6.6 6.6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 31 8.9 8.9 8.9
No 306 87.4 87.4 96.3
DK 11 3.1 3.1 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 101 28.9 28.9 28.9
Good 153 43.7 43.7 72.6
Just OK 67 19.1 19.1 91.7
Poor 7 2.0 2.0 93.7
Very Poor 6 1.7 1.7 95.4
DK 13 3.7 3.7 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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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 102 29.1 40.2 40.2
Lower costs 7 2.0 2.8 42.9
Price increases 9 2.6 3.5 46.5
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 35 10.0 13.8 60.2
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 9 2.6 3.5 63.8
SEASONAL WEATHER 34 9.7 13.4 77.2
Other 33 9.4 13.0 90.2
DK 22 6.3 8.7 98.8
Ref 3 .9 1.2 100.0
Total 254 72.6 100.0
Missing System 96 27.4

Total 350 100.0

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Cost increases 1 .3 7.7 7.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 23.1 30.8
Other 9 2.6 69.2 100.0
Total 13 3.7 100.0
Missing System 337 96.3

Total 350 100.0

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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 24 6.9 6.9 6.9
Taxes 23 6.6 6.6 13.4
Employee quality or costs 34 9.7 9.7 23.1
Insurance 60 17.1 17.1 40.3
Big business competition 56 16.0 16.0 56.3
Inflation and rising prices 48 13.7 13.7 70.0
Credit availability or interest rates 7 2.0 2.0 72.0
Regulations Red tape 32 9.1 9.1 81.1
Other 18 5.1 5.1 86.3
DK 18 5.1 5.1 91.4
Ref 20 5.7 5.7 97.1
NONE NO PROBLEMS 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS1. In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that Florida 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 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
Somewhat satisfied 177 50.6 50.6 63.7
Not too satisfied 57 16.3 16.3 80.0
Not at all satisfied 28 8.0 8.0 88.0
DK 34 9.7 9.7 97.7
Ref 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS13. What is the single most important action you have recently taken to combat the rising cost of energy?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Raised selling prices 37 10.6 10.6 10.6
Invested in energy-conserving equipment or vehicles 25 7.1 7.1 17.7
Reduced energy use 80 22.9 22.9 40.6
Absorbed costs with lower earnings 48 13.7 13.7 54.3
Reduced non-energy costs such as payroll 20 5.7 5.7 60.0
Increased promotion and advertising 39 11.1 11.1 71.1
Other 10 2.9 2.9 74.0
DK 76 21.7 21.7 95.7
Refuse 15 4.3 4.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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