Small-Business Conditions

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

View the data below for more information on the Central 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 141 40.3 40.3 45.1
Neutral 106 30.3 30.3 75.4
Not Supportive 37 10.6 10.6 86.0
Not at All Supportive 14 4.0 4.0 90.0
DK 33 9.4 9.4 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 75 21.4 21.4 21.4
Good 150 42.9 42.9 64.3
Just OK 95 27.1 27.1 91.4
Poor 20 5.7 5.7 97.1
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
Slowly Improving 70 20.0 20.0 33.1
Improving 18 5.1 5.1 38.3
Stable 181 51.7 51.7 90.0
Deteriorating 3 .9 .9 90.9
Slowly Deteriorating 18 5.1 5.1 96.0
Rapidly Deteriorating 8 2.3 2.3 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 158 45.1 45.1 45.1
No 190 54.3 54.3 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 163 46.6 46.6 46.6
No 181 51.7 51.7 98.3
DK 5 1.4 1.4 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 131 37.4 37.4 37.4
No 216 61.7 61.7 99.1
DK 2 .6 .6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 94 26.9 26.9 26.9
No 251 71.7 71.7 98.6
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 90 25.7 25.7 25.7
Fallen 7 2.0 2.0 27.7
Stayed the same 242 69.1 69.1 96.9
DK 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 204 58.3 58.3 58.3
Benefits 70 20.0 20.0 78.3
Both the same 20 5.7 5.7 84.0
Neither 29 8.3 8.3 92.3
DK 26 7.4 7.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 64 18.3 18.3 18.3
Increased Somewhat 118 33.7 33.7 52.0
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 54.3
About the Same 152 43.4 43.4 97.7
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 98.0
Decreased Somewhat 2 .6 .6 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 10 2.9 2.9 2.9
Increased Somewhat 58 16.6 16.6 19.4
Increased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 20.3
About the Same 261 74.6 74.6 94.9
Decreased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 95.7
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 96.6
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 97.4
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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. 148 42.3 42.3 42.3
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 18 5.1 5.1 47.4
I did not want to borrow. 163 46.6 46.6 94.0
DK 19 5.4 5.4 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 80 22.9 22.9 22.9
Good 142 40.6 40.6 63.4
Just OK 86 24.6 24.6 88.0
Poor 22 6.3 6.3 94.3
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 96.3
DK 9 2.6 2.6 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 55 15.7 15.7 15.7
Good 134 38.3 38.3 54.0
Just OK 105 30.0 30.0 84.0
Poor 26 7.4 7.4 91.4
Very Poor 13 3.7 3.7 95.1
DK 12 3.4 3.4 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 203 58.0 58.0 58.0
No 120 34.3 34.3 92.3
DK 26 7.4 7.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 34 9.7 9.7 9.7
No 310 88.6 88.6 98.3
DK 3 .9 .9 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 121 34.6 34.6 34.6
Good 136 38.9 38.9 73.4
Just OK 67 19.1 19.1 92.6
Poor 10 2.9 2.9 95.4
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 96.6
DK 8 2.3 2.3 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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 111 31.7 43.2 43.2
Lower costs 6 1.7 2.3 45.5
Price increases 11 3.1 4.3 49.8
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 31 8.9 12.1 61.9
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 9 2.6 3.5 65.4
SEASONAL WEATHER 27 7.7 10.5 75.9
Other 36 10.3 14.0 89.9
DK 22 6.3 8.6 98.4
Ref 4 1.1 1.6 100.0
Total 257 73.4 100.0
Missing System 93 26.6

Total 350 100.0

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 14.3 14.3
Cost increases 2 .6 14.3 28.6
Pressure on selling prices 1 .3 7.1 35.7
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 2 .6 14.3 50.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 1 .3 7.1 57.1
Other 4 1.1 28.6 85.7
DK 1 .3 7.1 92.9
Ref 1 .3 7.1 100.0
Total 14 4.0 100.0
Missing System 336 96.0

Total 350 100.0

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 35 10.0 10.0 10.0
Taxes 27 7.7 7.7 17.7
Employee quality or costs 44 12.6 12.6 30.3
Insurance 51 14.6 14.6 44.9
Big business competition 48 13.7 13.7 58.6
Inflation and rising prices 44 12.6 12.6 71.1
Credit availability or interest rates 13 3.7 3.7 74.9
Regulations Red tape 26 7.4 7.4 82.3
Other 17 4.9 4.9 87.1
DK 14 4.0 4.0 91.1
Ref 17 4.9 4.9 96.0
NONE NO PROBLEMS 14 4.0 4.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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 59 16.9 16.9 16.9
Somewhat satisfied 192 54.9 54.9 71.7
Not too satisfied 46 13.1 13.1 84.9
Not at all satisfied 24 6.9 6.9 91.7
DK 18 5.1 5.1 96.9
Ref 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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 28 8.0 8.0 18.6
Reduced energy use 70 20.0 20.0 38.6
Absorbed costs with lower earnings 40 11.4 11.4 50.0
Reduced non-energy costs such as payroll 21 6.0 6.0 56.0
Increased promotion and advertising 46 13.1 13.1 69.1
Other 17 4.9 4.9 74.0
DK 65 18.6 18.6 92.6
Refuse 26 7.4 7.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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