Small-Business Conditions

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Tennessee Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Tennessee Small-Business ConditionsTM survey from November 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Tennessee 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 29 8.3 8.3 8.3
Supportive 140 39.9 39.9 48.1
Neutral 98 27.9 27.9 76.1
Not Supportive 42 12.0 12.0 88.0
Not at All Supportive 18 5.1 5.1 93.2
DK 24 6.8 6.8 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 47 13.4 13.4 13.4
Good 150 42.7 42.7 56.1
Just OK 107 30.5 30.5 86.6
Poor 35 10.0 10.0 96.6
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 22 6.3 6.3 6.3
Slowly Improving 51 14.5 14.5 20.8
Improving 16 4.6 4.6 25.4
Stable 203 57.8 57.8 83.2
Deteriorating 11 3.1 3.1 86.3
Slowly Deteriorating 30 8.5 8.5 94.9
Rapidly Deteriorating 17 4.8 4.8 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 152 43.3 43.3 43.3
No 198 56.4 56.4 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 165 47.0 47.0 47.0
No 185 52.7 52.7 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 146 41.6 41.6 41.6
No 204 58.1 58.1 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 292 83.2 83.2 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 71 20.2 20.2 20.2
Fallen 17 4.8 4.8 25.1
Stayed the same 254 72.4 72.4 97.4
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 199 56.7 56.7 56.7
Benefits 83 23.6 23.6 80.3
Both the same 23 6.6 6.6 86.9
Neither 29 8.3 8.3 95.2
DK 16 4.6 4.6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 84 23.9 23.9 23.9
Increased Somewhat 135 38.5 38.5 62.4
Increased [no amount] 9 2.6 2.6 65.0
About the Same 116 33.0 33.0 98.0
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 98.3
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 98.6
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 17 4.8 4.8 4.8
Increased Somewhat 59 16.8 16.8 21.7
Increased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 22.5
About the Same 260 74.1 74.1 96.6
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 98.3
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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. 130 37.0 37.0 37.0
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 27 7.7 7.7 44.7
I did not want to borrow. 184 52.4 52.4 97.2
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 43 12.3 12.3 12.3
Good 165 47.0 47.0 59.3
Just OK 92 26.2 26.2 85.5
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 95.2
Very Poor 10 2.8 2.8 98.0
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 23 6.6 6.6 6.6
Good 142 40.5 40.5 47.0
Just OK 124 35.3 35.3 82.3
Poor 40 11.4 11.4 93.7
Very Poor 14 4.0 4.0 97.7
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 203 57.8 57.8 57.8
No 126 35.9 35.9 93.7
DK 19 5.4 5.4 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 311 88.6 88.6 98.3
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 77 21.9 21.9 21.9
Good 166 47.3 47.3 69.2
Just OK 69 19.7 19.7 88.9
Poor 21 6.0 6.0 94.9
Very Poor 3 .9 .9 95.7
DK 12 3.4 3.4 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 125 35.6 51.4 51.4
Lower costs 12 3.4 4.9 56.4
Price increases 13 3.7 5.3 61.7
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 38 10.8 15.6 77.4
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 12 3.4 4.9 82.3
SEASONAL WEATHER 13 3.7 5.3 87.7
Other 17 4.8 7.0 94.7
DK 12 3.4 4.9 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 243 69.2 100.0
Missing System 108 30.8

Total 351 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 3 .9 12.5 12.5
Cost increases 3 .9 12.5 25.0
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 4.2 29.2
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 6 1.7 25.0 54.2
SEASONAL WEATHER 6 1.7 25.0 79.2
Other 4 1.1 16.7 95.8
DK 1 .3 4.2 100.0
Total 24 6.8 100.0
Missing System 327 93.2

Total 351 100.0

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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 30 8.5 8.5 8.5
Taxes 49 14.0 14.0 22.5
Employee quality or costs 29 8.3 8.3 30.8
Insurance 30 8.5 8.5 39.3
Big business competition 45 12.8 12.8 52.1
Inflation and rising prices 78 22.2 22.2 74.4
Credit availability or interest rates 14 4.0 4.0 78.3
Regulations Red tape 26 7.4 7.4 85.8
Other 17 4.8 4.8 90.6
DK 15 4.3 4.3 94.9
Ref 3 .9 .9 95.7
NONE NO PROBLEMS 15 4.3 4.3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS7. Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, have you taken any actions to prepare your business for any disaster that may hit your area?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 65 18.5 18.5 18.5
No 276 78.6 78.6 97.2
DK 5 1.4 1.4 98.6
Refuse 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS8. Does your business have an emergency plan for disasters that you have communicated to your employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 155 44.2 44.2 44.2
No 184 52.4 52.4 96.6
DK 6 1.7 1.7 98.3
Refuse 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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