Small-Business Conditions

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Gold Coast Florida Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

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

Q1. Do you consider the Florida 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 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
Supportive 115 32.8 32.8 40.2
Neutral 105 29.9 29.9 70.1
Not Supportive 57 16.2 16.2 86.3
Not at All Supportive 21 6.0 6.0 92.3
DK 26 7.4 7.4 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 48 13.7 13.7 13.7
Good 142 40.5 40.5 54.1
Just OK 102 29.1 29.1 83.2
Poor 35 10.0 10.0 93.2
Very Poor 17 4.8 4.8 98.0
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.7
Refuse 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 24 6.8 6.8 6.8
Slowly Improving 55 15.7 15.7 22.5
Improving 16 4.6 4.6 27.1
Stable 193 55.0 55.0 82.1
Deteriorating 14 4.0 4.0 86.0
Slowly Deteriorating 33 9.4 9.4 95.4
Rapidly Deteriorating 10 2.8 2.8 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 167 47.6 47.6 47.6
No 177 50.4 50.4 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 141 40.2 40.2 40.2
No 201 57.3 57.3 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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 151 43.0 43.0 43.0
No 196 55.8 55.8 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 98 27.9 27.9 27.9
No 249 70.9 70.9 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 68 19.4 19.4 19.4
Fallen 18 5.1 5.1 24.5
Stayed the same 243 69.2 69.2 93.7
DK 20 5.7 5.7 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 187 53.3 53.3 53.3
Benefits 100 28.5 28.5 81.8
Both the same 23 6.6 6.6 88.3
Neither 26 7.4 7.4 95.7
DK 15 4.3 4.3 100.0
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 95 27.1 27.1 27.1
Increased Somewhat 94 26.8 26.8 53.8
Increased [no amount] 13 3.7 3.7 57.5
About the Same 138 39.3 39.3 96.9
Decreased Somewhat 2 .6 .6 97.4
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 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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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 16 4.6 4.6 4.6
Increased Somewhat 62 17.7 17.7 22.2
Increased [no amount] 4 1.1 1.1 23.4
About the Same 251 71.5 71.5 94.9
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 96.6
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 96.9
DK 10 2.8 2.8 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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. 147 41.9 41.9 41.9
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 30 8.5 8.5 50.4
I did not want to borrow. 154 43.9 43.9 94.3
DK 18 5.1 5.1 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 40 11.4 11.4 11.4
Good 132 37.6 37.6 49.0
Just OK 109 31.1 31.1 80.1
Poor 40 11.4 11.4 91.5
Very Poor 13 3.7 3.7 95.2
DK 13 3.7 3.7 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 20 5.7 5.7 5.7
Good 114 32.5 32.5 38.2
Just OK 126 35.9 35.9 74.1
Poor 56 16.0 16.0 90.0
Very Poor 17 4.8 4.8 94.9
DK 16 4.6 4.6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 181 51.6 51.6 51.6
No 138 39.3 39.3 90.9
DK 30 8.5 8.5 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 55 15.7 15.7 15.7
No 290 82.6 82.6 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 94 26.8 26.8 26.8
Good 143 40.7 40.7 67.5
Just OK 84 23.9 23.9 91.5
Poor 9 2.6 2.6 94.0
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 96.0
DK 12 3.4 3.4 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 74 21.1 31.2 31.2
Lower costs 9 2.6 3.8 35.0
Price increases 16 4.6 6.8 41.8
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 43 12.3 18.1 59.9
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 10 2.8 4.2 64.1
SEASONAL WEATHER 25 7.1 10.5 74.7
Other 33 9.4 13.9 88.6
DK 24 6.8 10.1 98.7
Ref 3 .9 1.3 100.0
Total 237 67.5 100.0
Missing System 114 32.5

Total 351 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 1 .3 6.3 6.3
Cost increases 1 .3 6.3 12.5
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 12.5 25.0
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 18.8 43.8
SEASONAL WEATHER 4 1.1 25.0 68.8
Other 5 1.4 31.3 100.0
Total 16 4.6 100.0
Missing System 335 95.4

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 23 6.6 6.6 15.1
Employee quality or costs 30 8.5 8.5 23.6
Insurance 51 14.5 14.5 38.2
Big business competition 55 15.7 15.7 53.8
Inflation and rising prices 53 15.1 15.1 68.9
Credit availability or interest rates 21 6.0 6.0 74.9
Regulations Red tape 28 8.0 8.0 82.9
Other 23 6.6 6.6 89.5
DK 20 5.7 5.7 95.2
Ref 8 2.3 2.3 97.4
NONE NO PROBLEMS 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS3. How important is immigrant labor to businesses in your area? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important or not at all important?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very important 84 23.9 23.9 23.9
Somewhat important 102 29.1 29.1 53.0
Not too important 53 15.1 15.1 68.1
Not at all important 88 25.1 25.1 93.2
DK 17 4.8 4.8 98.0
Ref 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS4. Which best describes the role immigrant labor plays in your area?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Provides skills not otherwise available 44 12.5 12.5 12.5
Fills jobs that otherwise wouldn't be filled 125 35.6 35.6 48.1
Crowds out American workers 29 8.3 8.3 56.4
No appreciable role 79 22.5 22.5 78.9
DK 66 18.8 18.8 97.7
Ref 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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