Small-Business Conditions

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

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

Q1. Do you consider the Washington 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 2.8 2.8 2.8
Supportive 105 29.8 29.8 32.7
Neutral 81 23.0 23.0 55.7
Not Supportive 80 22.7 22.7 78.4
Not at All Supportive 37 10.5 10.5 88.9
DK 34 9.7 9.7 98.6
Refuse 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 53 15.1 15.1 15.1
Good 142 40.3 40.3 55.4
Just OK 100 28.4 28.4 83.8
Poor 33 9.4 9.4 93.2
Very Poor 14 4.0 4.0 97.2
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 17 4.8 4.8 4.8
Slowly Improving 85 24.1 24.1 29.0
Improving 15 4.3 4.3 33.2
Stable 173 49.1 49.1 82.4
Deteriorating 4 1.1 1.1 83.5
Slowly Deteriorating 32 9.1 9.1 92.6
Rapidly Deteriorating 14 4.0 4.0 96.6
DK 11 3.1 3.1 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 148 42.0 42.0 42.0
No 196 55.7 55.7 97.7
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 160 45.5 45.5 45.5
No 186 52.8 52.8 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 153 43.5 43.5 43.5
No 195 55.4 55.4 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 75 21.3 21.3 21.3
No 274 77.8 77.8 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 79 22.4 22.4 22.4
Fallen 10 2.8 2.8 25.3
Stayed the same 239 67.9 67.9 93.2
DK 20 5.7 5.7 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 188 53.4 53.4 53.4
Benefits 102 29.0 29.0 82.4
Both the same 13 3.7 3.7 86.1
Neither 32 9.1 9.1 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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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 57 16.2 16.2 16.2
Increased Somewhat 122 34.7 34.7 50.9
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 53.1
About the Same 144 40.9 40.9 94.0
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 94.3
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 95.2
DK 14 4.0 4.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 11 3.1 3.1 3.1
Increased Somewhat 62 17.6 17.6 20.7
Increased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 21.6
About the Same 250 71.0 71.0 92.6
Decreased Somewhat 9 2.6 2.6 95.2
DK 11 3.1 3.1 98.3
Ref 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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. 126 35.8 35.8 35.8
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 19 5.4 5.4 41.2
I did not want to borrow. 183 52.0 52.0 93.2
DK 21 6.0 6.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 73 20.7 20.7 20.7
Good 137 38.9 38.9 59.7
Just OK 104 29.5 29.5 89.2
Poor 24 6.8 6.8 96.0
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 97.4
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 37 10.5 10.5 10.5
Good 125 35.5 35.5 46.0
Just OK 123 34.9 34.9 81.0
Poor 41 11.6 11.6 92.6
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 94.6
DK 13 3.7 3.7 98.3
Ref 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 186 52.8 52.8 52.8
No 139 39.5 39.5 92.3
DK 23 6.5 6.5 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 40 11.4 11.4 11.4
No 305 86.6 86.6 98.0
DK 5 1.4 1.4 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 78 22.2 22.2 22.2
Good 169 48.0 48.0 70.2
Just OK 73 20.7 20.7 90.9
Poor 9 2.6 2.6 93.5
Very Poor 3 .9 .9 94.3
DK 16 4.5 4.5 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 109 31.0 44.1 44.1
Lower costs 4 1.1 1.6 45.7
Price increases 9 2.6 3.6 49.4
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 42 11.9 17.0 66.4
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 9 2.6 3.6 70.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 19 5.4 7.7 77.7
Other 38 10.8 15.4 93.1
DK 17 4.8 6.9 100.0
Total 247 70.2 100.0
Missing System 105 29.8

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 Cost increases 1 .3 8.3 8.3
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 8.3 16.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 41.7 58.3
SEASONAL WEATHER 2 .6 16.7 75.0
Other 1 .3 8.3 83.3
DK 2 .6 16.7 100.0
Total 12 3.4 100.0
Missing System 340 96.6

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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Taxes 55 15.6 15.6 24.7
Employee quality or costs 36 10.2 10.2 34.9
Insurance 42 11.9 11.9 46.9
Big business competition 43 12.2 12.2 59.1
Inflation and rising prices 43 12.2 12.2 71.3
Credit availability or interest rates 4 1.1 1.1 72.4
Regulations Red tape 40 11.4 11.4 83.8
Other 21 6.0 6.0 89.8
DK 12 3.4 3.4 93.2
Ref 17 4.8 4.8 98.0
NONE NO PROBLEMS 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 212 60.2 60.2 60.2
Health benefits 33 9.4 9.4 69.6
Retirement benefits 9 2.6 2.6 72.2
Paid leave 11 3.1 3.1 75.3
OR, Some other way? 28 8.0 8.0 83.2
Wouldn’t give increase 15 4.3 4.3 87.5
DK 31 8.8 8.8 96.3
Refuse 13 3.7 3.7 100.0
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 233 66.2 66.2 66.2
Health benefits 30 8.5 8.5 74.7
Retirement benefits 15 4.3 4.3 79.0
Paid leave 10 2.8 2.8 81.8
OR, Some other way? 12 3.4 3.4 85.2
Wouldn’t give increase 8 2.3 2.3 87.5
DK 33 9.4 9.4 96.9
Refuse 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 352 100.0 100.0

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