Small-Business Conditions

 Print  |  E-mail  | -- Font | ++ Font | rss.gif
Minnesota Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

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

Q1. Do you consider the Minnesota 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 12 3.4 3.4 3.4
Supportive 145 41.4 41.4 44.9
Neutral 109 31.1 31.1 76.0
Not Supportive 46 13.1 13.1 89.1
Not at All Supportive 18 5.1 5.1 94.3
DK 20 5.7 5.7 100.0
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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Good 141 40.3 40.3 49.4
Just OK 124 35.4 35.4 84.9
Poor 40 11.4 11.4 96.3
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 12 3.4 3.4 3.4
Slowly Improving 37 10.6 10.6 14.0
Improving 12 3.4 3.4 17.4
Stable 210 60.0 60.0 77.4
Deteriorating 18 5.1 5.1 82.6
Slowly Deteriorating 42 12.0 12.0 94.6
Rapidly Deteriorating 11 3.1 3.1 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
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 155 44.3 44.3 44.3
No 193 55.1 55.1 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 169 48.3 48.3 48.3
No 180 51.4 51.4 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 167 47.7 47.7 47.7
No 182 52.0 52.0 99.7
DK 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 66 18.9 18.9 18.9
No 284 81.1 81.1 100.0
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 94 26.9 26.9 26.9
Fallen 11 3.1 3.1 30.0
Stayed the same 239 68.3 68.3 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 184 52.6 52.6 52.6
Benefits 121 34.6 34.6 87.1
Both the same 16 4.6 4.6 91.7
Neither 20 5.7 5.7 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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 97 27.7 27.7 27.7
Increased Somewhat 136 38.9 38.9 66.6
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 68.6
About the Same 106 30.3 30.3 98.9
Decreased Somewhat 2 .6 .6 99.4
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 21 6.0 6.0 6.0
Increased Somewhat 65 18.6 18.6 24.6
Increased [no amount] 5 1.4 1.4 26.0
About the Same 238 68.0 68.0 94.0
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 94.6
Decreased Somewhat 10 2.9 2.9 97.4
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 98.0
DK 5 1.4 1.4 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. 150 42.9 42.9 42.9
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 20 5.7 5.7 48.6
I did not want to borrow. 166 47.4 47.4 96.0
DK 13 3.7 3.7 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Good 150 42.9 42.9 52.0
Just OK 126 36.0 36.0 88.0
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 97.7
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 98.9
DK 3 .9 .9 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 15 4.3 4.3 4.3
Good 110 31.4 31.4 35.7
Just OK 145 41.4 41.4 77.1
Poor 59 16.9 16.9 94.0
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 96.9
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 194 55.4 55.4 55.4
No 132 37.7 37.7 93.1
DK 22 6.3 6.3 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 37 10.6 10.6 10.6
No 311 88.9 88.9 99.4
DK 1 .3 .3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 53 15.1 15.1 15.1
Good 165 47.1 47.1 62.3
Just OK 103 29.4 29.4 91.7
Poor 20 5.7 5.7 97.4
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 98.9
DK 2 .6 .6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 112 32.0 51.4 51.4
Lower costs 6 1.7 2.8 54.1
Price increases 7 2.0 3.2 57.3
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 42 12.0 19.3 76.6
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 2.3 78.9
SEASONAL WEATHER 20 5.7 9.2 88.1
Other 18 5.1 8.3 96.3
DK 7 2.0 3.2 99.5
Ref 1 .3 .5 100.0
Total 218 62.3 100.0
Missing System 132 37.7

Total 350 100.0

Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 4 1.1 16.0 16.0
Cost increases 5 1.4 20.0 36.0
Pressure on selling prices 3 .9 12.0 48.0
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 2 .6 8.0 56.0
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 12.0 68.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 5 1.4 20.0 88.0
Other 2 .6 8.0 96.0
DK 1 .3 4.0 100.0
Total 25 7.1 100.0
Missing System 325 92.9

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 40 11.4 11.4 11.4
Taxes 26 7.4 7.4 18.9
Employee quality or costs 35 10.0 10.0 28.9
Insurance 52 14.9 14.9 43.7
Big business competition 63 18.0 18.0 61.7
Inflation and rising prices 61 17.4 17.4 79.1
Credit availability or interest rates 10 2.9 2.9 82.0
Regulations Red tape 25 7.1 7.1 89.1
Other 15 4.3 4.3 93.4
DK 14 4.0 4.0 97.4
Ref 1 .3 .3 97.7
NONE NO PROBLEMS 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


SS9. Which of your total costs are rising most rapidly?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Energy 108 30.9 30.9 30.9
Labor 41 11.7 11.7 42.6
Insurance 90 25.7 25.7 68.3
Materials 83 23.7 23.7 92.0
Some other 10 2.9 2.9 94.9
None rising rapidly 8 2.3 2.3 97.1
DK 6 1.7 1.7 98.9
Refuse 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


SS10. Which of your total costs are rising next most rapidly?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Energy 80 22.9 23.5 23.5
Labor 50 14.3 14.7 38.2
Insurance 95 27.1 27.9 66.2
Materials 89 25.4 26.2 92.4
Some other 12 3.4 3.5 95.9
None rising rapidly 8 2.3 2.4 98.2
DK 5 1.4 1.5 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 340 97.1 100.0
Missing System 10 2.9

Total 350 100.0

Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

 Print  |  E-mail  | -- Font | ++ Font | rss.gif