Small-Business Conditions

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

View the data below for more information on the Ohio Small-Business ConditionsSM survey for September 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Ohio 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 16 4.5 4.5 4.5
Supportive 109 31.0 31.0 35.5
Neutral 108 30.7 30.7 66.2
Not Supportive 57 16.2 16.2 82.4
Not at All Supportive 28 8.0 8.0 90.3
DK 30 8.5 8.5 98.9
Refuse 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 22 6.3 6.3 6.3
Good 135 38.4 38.4 44.6
Just OK 107 30.4 30.4 75.0
Poor 66 18.8 18.8 93.8
Very Poor 20 5.7 5.7 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 11 3.1 3.1 3.1
Slowly Improving 57 16.2 16.2 19.3
Improving 10 2.8 2.8 22.2
Stable 196 55.7 55.7 77.8
Deteriorating 10 2.8 2.8 80.7
Slowly Deteriorating 48 13.6 13.6 94.3
Rapidly Deteriorating 13 3.7 3.7 98.0
DK 5 1.4 1.4 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 140 39.8 39.8 39.8
No 210 59.7 59.7 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 139 39.5 39.5 39.5
No 206 58.5 58.5 98.0
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 137 38.9 38.9 38.9
No 211 59.9 59.9 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 59 16.8 16.8 16.8
No 290 82.4 82.4 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 63 17.9 17.9 17.9
Fallen 20 5.7 5.7 23.6
Stayed the same 250 71.0 71.0 94.6
DK 18 5.1 5.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 175 49.7 49.7 49.7
Benefits 117 33.2 33.2 83.0
Both the same 18 5.1 5.1 88.1
Neither 26 7.4 7.4 95.5
DK 16 4.5 4.5 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 60 17.0 17.0 17.0
Increased Somewhat 134 38.1 38.1 55.1
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 57.1
About the Same 136 38.6 38.6 95.7
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 96.6
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 97.4
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 10 2.8 2.8 2.8
Increased Somewhat 54 15.3 15.3 18.2
Increased [no amount] 6 1.7 1.7 19.9
About the Same 263 74.7 74.7 94.6
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 95.2
Decreased Somewhat 11 3.1 3.1 98.3
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 98.9
DK 3 .9 .9 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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. 131 37.2 37.2 37.2
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 21 6.0 6.0 43.2
I did not want to borrow. 181 51.4 51.4 94.6
DK 18 5.1 5.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 39 11.1 11.1 11.1
Good 135 38.4 38.4 49.4
Just OK 115 32.7 32.7 82.1
Poor 45 12.8 12.8 94.9
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 98.0
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 20 5.7 5.7 5.7
Good 109 31.0 31.0 36.6
Just OK 124 35.2 35.2 71.9
Poor 62 17.6 17.6 89.5
Very Poor 20 5.7 5.7 95.2
DK 16 4.5 4.5 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 177 50.3 50.3 50.3
No 143 40.6 40.6 90.9
DK 31 8.8 8.8 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 29 8.2 8.2 8.2
No 314 89.2 89.2 97.4
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 58 16.5 16.5 16.5
Good 142 40.3 40.3 56.8
Just OK 106 30.1 30.1 86.9
Poor 20 5.7 5.7 92.6
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 95.2
DK 15 4.3 4.3 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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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 99 28.1 49.5 49.5
Lower costs 8 2.3 4.0 53.5
Price increases 4 1.1 2.0 55.5
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 23 6.5 11.5 67.0
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 6 1.7 3.0 70.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 16 4.5 8.0 78.0
Other 26 7.4 13.0 91.0
DK 16 4.5 8.0 99.0
Ref 2 .6 1.0 100.0
Total 200 56.8 100.0
Missing System 152 43.2

Total 352 100.0

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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 2 .6 6.9 6.9
Cost increases 3 .9 10.3 17.2
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 6.9 24.1
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 3.4 27.6
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 6 1.7 20.7 48.3
SEASONAL WEATHER 5 1.4 17.2 65.5
Other 9 2.6 31.0 96.6
DK 1 .3 3.4 100.0
Total 29 8.2 100.0
Missing System 323 91.8

Total 352 100.0

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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 47 13.4 13.4 13.4
Taxes 62 17.6 17.6 31.0
Employee quality or costs 29 8.2 8.2 39.2
Insurance 47 13.4 13.4 52.6
Big business competition 49 13.9 13.9 66.5
Inflation and rising prices 43 12.2 12.2 78.7
Credit availability or interest rates 10 2.8 2.8 81.5
Regulations Red tape 29 8.2 8.2 89.8
Other 13 3.7 3.7 93.5
DK 7 2.0 2.0 95.5
Ref 13 3.7 3.7 99.1
NONE NO PROBLEMS 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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SS7. If you were to give your employees a compensation increase equivalent to $1.00 per hour, how would you do it? Would you give it to them in...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages or salary 211 59.9 59.9 59.9
Health benefits 27 7.7 7.7 67.6
Retirement benefits 21 6.0 6.0 73.6
Paid leave 10 2.8 2.8 76.4
OR, Some other way? 28 8.0 8.0 84.4
Wouldn’t give increase 14 4.0 4.0 88.4
DK 38 10.8 10.8 99.1
Refuse 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0
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SS8. If your employees could choose, how they would like to receive a compensation increase of $1.00 per hour? Do you think they would like the increase in...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages or salary 253 71.9 71.9 71.9
Health benefits 34 9.7 9.7 81.5
Retirement benefits 15 4.3 4.3 85.8
Paid leave 7 2.0 2.0 87.8
OR, Some other way? 12 3.4 3.4 91.2
Wouldn’t give increase 4 1.1 1.1 92.3
DK 23 6.5 6.5 98.9
Refuse 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0

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