Small-Business Conditions

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

View the data below for more information on the Colorado Small-Business ConditionsSM survey for November 2005.
Q1. Do you consider the Colorado 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 25 7.1 7.1 7.1
Supportive 133 38.0 38.0 45.1
Neutral 123 35.1 35.1 80.3
Not Supportive 31 8.9 8.9 89.1
Not at All Supportive 10 2.9 2.9 92.0
DK 27 7.7 7.7 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 40 11.4 11.4 11.4
Good 152 43.4 43.4 54.9
Just OK 107 30.6 30.6 85.4
Poor 40 11.4 11.4 96.9
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 98.9
DK 3 .9 .9 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 25 7.1 7.1 7.1
Slowly Improving 50 14.3 14.3 21.4
Improving 15 4.3 4.3 25.7
Stable 199 56.9 56.9 82.6
Deteriorating 15 4.3 4.3 86.9
Slowly Deteriorating 33 9.4 9.4 96.3
Rapidly Deteriorating 7 2.0 2.0 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 176 50.3 50.3 50.3
No 171 48.9 48.9 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 168 48.0 48.0 48.0
No 180 51.4 51.4 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q6. 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 160 45.7 45.7 45.7
No 188 53.7 53.7 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 66 18.9 18.9 18.9
No 282 80.6 80.6 99.4
DK 1 .3 .3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 73 20.9 20.9 20.9
Fallen 14 4.0 4.0 24.9
Stayed the same 248 70.9 70.9 95.7
DK 14 4.0 4.0 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 195 55.7 55.7 55.7
Benefits 90 25.7 25.7 81.4
Both the same 22 6.3 6.3 87.7
Neither 27 7.7 7.7 95.4
DK 15 4.3 4.3 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 95 27.1 27.1 27.1
Increased Somewhat 106 30.3 30.3 57.4
Increased [no amount] 10 2.9 2.9 60.3
About the Same 129 36.9 36.9 97.1
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 98.0
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 18 5.1 5.1 5.1
Increased Somewhat 61 17.4 17.4 22.6
Increased [no amount] 5 1.4 1.4 24.0
About the Same 243 69.4 69.4 93.4
Decreased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 94.3
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 96.0
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 96.9
DK 9 2.6 2.6 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. 135 38.6 38.6 38.6
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 11 3.1 3.1 41.7
I did not want to borrow. 192 54.9 54.9 96.6
DK 11 3.1 3.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
Good 145 41.4 41.4 54.6
Just OK 114 32.6 32.6 87.1
Poor 30 8.6 8.6 95.7
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 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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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 29 8.3 8.3 8.3
Good 107 30.6 30.6 38.9
Just OK 151 43.1 43.1 82.0
Poor 39 11.1 11.1 93.1
Very Poor 13 3.7 3.7 96.9
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 187 53.4 53.4 53.4
No 131 37.4 37.4 90.9
DK 27 7.7 7.7 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 49 14.0 14.0 14.0
No 295 84.3 84.3 98.3
DK 5 1.4 1.4 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?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 79 22.6 22.6 22.6
Good 148 42.3 42.3 64.9
Just OK 95 27.1 27.1 92.0
Poor 16 4.6 4.6 96.6
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 98.0
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 98 28.0 43.2 43.2
Lower costs 10 2.9 4.4 47.6
Price increases 9 2.6 4.0 51.5
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 38 10.9 16.7 68.3
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 11 3.1 4.8 73.1
SEASONAL WEATHER 22 6.3 9.7 82.8
Other 24 6.9 10.6 93.4
DK 15 4.3 6.6 100.0
Total 227 64.9 100.0
Missing System 123 35.1

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 6 1.7 28.6 28.6
Cost increases 4 1.1 19.0 47.6
Pressure on selling prices 1 .3 4.8 52.4
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 3 .9 14.3 66.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 4 1.1 19.0 85.7
SEASONAL WEATHER 1 .3 4.8 90.5
Other 2 .6 9.5 100.0
Total 21 6.0 100.0
Missing System 329 94.0

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 28 8.0 8.0 8.0
Taxes 34 9.7 9.7 17.7
Employee quality or costs 32 9.1 9.1 26.9
Insurance 50 14.3 14.3 41.1
Big business competition 45 12.9 12.9 54.0
Inflation and rising prices 65 18.6 18.6 72.6
Credit availability or interest rates 17 4.9 4.9 77.4
Regulations Red tape 22 6.3 6.3 83.7
Other 17 4.9 4.9 88.6
DK 19 5.4 5.4 94.0
Ref 8 2.3 2.3 96.3
NONE NO PROBLEMS 13 3.7 3.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS13. What has been the impact on your business of the recent run-up in energy prices?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Seriously negative 44 12.6 18.9 18.9
Somewhat negative 57 16.3 24.5 43.3
Slightly negative 65 18.6 27.9 71.2
No impact 45 12.9 19.3 90.6
Positive 9 2.6 3.9 94.4
DK 8 2.3 3.4 97.9
Refuse 5 1.4 2.1 100.0
Total 233 66.6 100.0
Missing System 117 33.4

Total 350 100.0

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SS14. What is the single most important action you have recently taken to offset rising energy costs?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Raised selling prices 51 14.6 14.6 14.6
Invested in energy-conserving equipment or vehicles 26 7.4 7.4 22.0
Reduced energy use 103 29.4 29.4 51.4
Absorbed costs with lower earnings 61 17.4 17.4 68.9
Reduced non_energy costs such as payroll 21 6.0 6.0 74.9
Other 30 8.6 8.6 83.4
DK 43 12.3 12.3 95.7
Refuse 15 4.3 4.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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