Small-Business Conditions

 Print  |  E-mail  | -- Font | ++ Font | rss.gif
Tampa Bay/West Florida Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Tampa Bay/West 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 28 8.0 8.0 8.0
Supportive 142 40.6 40.6 48.6
Neutral 84 24.0 24.0 72.6
Not Supportive 52 14.9 14.9 87.4
Not at All Supportive 21 6.0 6.0 93.4
DK 23 6.6 6.6 100.0
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 65 18.6 18.6 18.6
Good 158 45.1 45.1 63.7
Just OK 82 23.4 23.4 87.1
Poor 29 8.3 8.3 95.4
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 45 12.9 12.9 12.9
Slowly Improving 51 14.6 14.6 27.4
Improving 22 6.3 6.3 33.7
Stable 188 53.7 53.7 87.4
Deteriorating 13 3.7 3.7 91.1
Slowly Deteriorating 16 4.6 4.6 95.7
Rapidly Deteriorating 10 2.9 2.9 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 153 43.7 43.7 43.7
No 191 54.6 54.6 98.3
DK 5 1.4 1.4 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 156 44.6 44.6 44.6
No 189 54.0 54.0 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 155 44.3 44.3 44.3
No 194 55.4 55.4 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 92 26.3 26.3 26.3
No 257 73.4 73.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 86 24.6 24.6 24.6
Fallen 18 5.1 5.1 29.7
Stayed the same 235 67.1 67.1 96.9
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 164 46.9 46.9 46.9
Benefits 109 31.1 31.1 78.0
Both the same 29 8.3 8.3 86.3
Neither 31 8.9 8.9 95.1
DK 16 4.6 4.6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 100 28.6 28.6 28.6
Increased Somewhat 118 33.7 33.7 62.3
Increased [no amount] 15 4.3 4.3 66.6
About the Same 108 30.9 30.9 97.4
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 97.7
Decreased Somewhat 2 .6 .6 98.3
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 16 4.6 4.6 4.6
Increased Somewhat 69 19.7 19.7 24.3
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 26.6
About the Same 241 68.9 68.9 95.4
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 96.0
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 97.7
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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. 158 45.1 45.1 45.1
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 21 6.0 6.0 51.1
I did not want to borrow. 160 45.7 45.7 96.9
DK 10 2.9 2.9 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 70 20.0 20.0 20.0
Good 134 38.3 38.3 58.3
Just OK 105 30.0 30.0 88.3
Poor 29 8.3 8.3 96.6
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 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.


Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 34 9.7 9.7 9.7
Good 134 38.3 38.3 48.0
Just OK 121 34.6 34.6 82.6
Poor 46 13.1 13.1 95.7
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 97.7
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 197 56.3 56.3 56.3
No 129 36.9 36.9 93.1
DK 23 6.6 6.6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 45 12.9 12.9 12.9
No 299 85.4 85.4 98.3
DK 5 1.4 1.4 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 102 29.1 29.1 29.1
Good 157 44.9 44.9 74.0
Just OK 69 19.7 19.7 93.7
Poor 10 2.9 2.9 96.6
Very Poor 1 .3 .3 96.9
DK 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
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 110 31.4 42.5 42.5
Lower costs 5 1.4 1.9 44.4
Price increases 7 2.0 2.7 47.1
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 34 9.7 13.1 60.2
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 12 3.4 4.6 64.9
SEASONAL WEATHER 41 11.7 15.8 80.7
Other 28 8.0 10.8 91.5
DK 20 5.7 7.7 99.2
Ref 2 .6 .8 100.0
Total 259 74.0 100.0
Missing System 91 26.0

Total 350 100.0

Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 1 .3 9.1 9.1
Cost increases 1 .3 9.1 18.2
Pressure on selling prices 3 .9 27.3 45.5
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 9.1 54.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 2 .6 18.2 72.7
SEASONAL WEATHER 2 .6 18.2 90.9
Other 1 .3 9.1 100.0
Total 11 3.1 100.0
Missing System 339 96.9

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 37 10.6 10.6 10.6
Taxes 18 5.1 5.1 15.7
Employee quality or costs 47 13.4 13.4 29.1
Insurance 57 16.3 16.3 45.4
Big business competition 45 12.9 12.9 58.3
Inflation and rising prices 51 14.6 14.6 72.9
Credit availability or interest rates 12 3.4 3.4 76.3
Regulations Red tape 28 8.0 8.0 84.3
Other 19 5.4 5.4 89.7
DK 18 5.1 5.1 94.9
Ref 7 2.0 2.0 96.9
NONE NO PROBLEMS 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


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 79 22.6 22.6 22.6
Somewhat important 96 27.4 27.4 50.0
Not too important 46 13.1 13.1 63.1
Not at all important 98 28.0 28.0 91.1
DK 28 8.0 8.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.


SS4. Which best describes the role immigrant labor plays in your area?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Provides skills not otherwise available 36 10.3 10.3 10.3
Fills jobs that otherwise wouldn't be filled 120 34.3 34.3 44.6
Crowds out American workers 30 8.6 8.6 53.1
No appreciable role 94 26.9 26.9 80.0
DK 61 17.4 17.4 97.4
Ref 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
Arrow BlackReturn to the top.

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