Small-Business Conditions

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Massachusetts Small-Business Conditions, September 2005
09/01/2005

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

Q1. Do you consider the Massachusetts 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 10 2.9 2.9 2.9
Supportive 115 32.9 32.9 35.7
Neutral 96 27.4 27.4 63.1
Not Supportive 65 18.6 18.6 81.7
Not at All Supportive 23 6.6 6.6 88.3
DK 40 11.4 11.4 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
Good 142 40.6 40.6 53.7
Just OK 114 32.6 32.6 86.3
Poor 35 10.0 10.0 96.3
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 14 4.0 4.0 4.0
Slowly Improving 53 15.1 15.1 19.1
Improving 11 3.1 3.1 22.3
Stable 205 58.6 58.6 80.9
Deteriorating 10 2.9 2.9 83.7
Slowly Deteriorating 33 9.4 9.4 93.1
Rapidly Deteriorating 15 4.3 4.3 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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 142 40.6 40.6 40.6
No 206 58.9 58.9 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 142 40.6 40.6 40.6
No 205 58.6 58.6 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 133 38.0 38.0 38.0
No 210 60.0 60.0 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 79 22.6 22.6 22.6
No 269 76.9 76.9 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 16 4.6 4.6 25.1
Stayed the same 245 70.0 70.0 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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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 166 47.4 47.4 47.4
Benefits 121 34.6 34.6 82.0
Both the same 24 6.9 6.9 88.9
Neither 22 6.3 6.3 95.1
DK 16 4.6 4.6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 77 22.0 22.0 22.0
Increased Somewhat 110 31.4 31.4 53.4
Increased [no amount] 9 2.6 2.6 56.0
About the Same 144 41.1 41.1 97.1
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 97.4
Decreased Somewhat 2 .6 .6 98.0
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 13 3.7 3.7 3.7
Increased Somewhat 48 13.7 13.7 17.4
Increased [no amount] 6 1.7 1.7 19.1
About the Same 256 73.1 73.1 92.3
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 92.6
Decreased Somewhat 15 4.3 4.3 96.9
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 97.4
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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. 140 40.0 40.0 40.0
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 17 4.9 4.9 44.9
I did not want to borrow. 171 48.9 48.9 93.7
DK 20 5.7 5.7 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 56 16.0 16.0 16.0
Good 144 41.1 41.1 57.1
Just OK 106 30.3 30.3 87.4
Poor 27 7.7 7.7 95.1
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 96.6
DK 8 2.3 2.3 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 34 9.7 9.7 9.7
Good 126 36.0 36.0 45.7
Just OK 119 34.0 34.0 79.7
Poor 40 11.4 11.4 91.1
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 93.7
DK 18 5.1 5.1 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 182 52.0 52.0 52.0
No 133 38.0 38.0 90.0
DK 31 8.9 8.9 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 34 9.7 9.7 9.7
No 308 88.0 88.0 97.7
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 75 21.4 21.4 21.4
Good 160 45.7 45.7 67.1
Just OK 88 25.1 25.1 92.3
Poor 15 4.3 4.3 96.6
Very Poor 2 .6 .6 97.1
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 105 30.0 44.7 44.7
Lower costs 7 2.0 3.0 47.7
Price increases 7 2.0 3.0 50.6
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 33 9.4 14.0 64.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 4 1.1 1.7 66.4
SEASONAL WEATHER 28 8.0 11.9 78.3
Other 27 7.7 11.5 89.8
DK 23 6.6 9.8 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 235 67.1 100.0
Missing System 115 32.9

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 Sales prospects 4 1.1 23.5 23.5
Cost increases 3 .9 17.6 41.2
Pressure on selling prices 1 .3 5.9 47.1
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 29.4 76.5
SEASONAL WEATHER 3 .9 17.6 94.1
Other 1 .3 5.9 100.0
Total 17 4.9 100.0
Missing System 333 95.1

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 33 9.4 9.4 9.4
Taxes 27 7.7 7.7 17.1
Employee quality or costs 40 11.4 11.4 28.6
Insurance 66 18.9 18.9 47.4
Big business competition 44 12.6 12.6 60.0
Inflation and rising prices 51 14.6 14.6 74.6
Credit availability or interest rates 15 4.3 4.3 78.9
Regulations Red tape 22 6.3 6.3 85.1
Other 17 4.9 4.9 90.0
DK 16 4.6 4.6 94.6
Ref 10 2.9 2.9 97.4
NONE NO PROBLEMS 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS2. What do you value most in the area where you do business?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Quality of life 113 32.3 32.3 32.3
Physical environment 23 6.6 6.6 38.9
Opportunity 55 15.7 15.7 54.6
Vibrance and vitality 11 3.1 3.1 57.7
My roots are here 115 32.9 32.9 90.6
Other 10 2.9 2.9 93.4
DK 18 5.1 5.1 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS4. Which best describes the role immigrant labor plays in your area?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Provides skills not otherwise available 35 10.0 10.0 10.0
Fills jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be filled 73 20.9 20.9 30.9
Crowds out American workers 16 4.6 4.6 35.4
No appreciable role 130 37.1 37.1 72.6
DK 88 25.1 25.1 97.7
Ref 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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