| Chamber Survey Results | |||||||||||
| Current Top Business Challenges | |||||||||||
| Apr 22, 2010 3:38:17 PM | |||||||||||
| 1. Rate each challenge below anywhere from 0 to 10, with 10 being an enormous challenge to your business and 1 being little challenge and 0 being no challenge at all for your business or not applicable. | |||||||||||
| Top number is the count of respondents selecting the option. Bottom % is percent of the total respondents selecting the option. | No Challenge or Not Applicable | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Enormous Challenge |
| The economy - The condition of the local, state and national economy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 15 |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | 8% | 0% | 5% | 8% | 13% | 16% | 11% | 39% | |
| Taxation - The amount you pay in taxes, at all levels | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 11% | 11% | 16% | 18% | 13% | 24% | |
| Competition - Staying ahead of your private sector competitors | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 3% | 3% | 3% | 8% | 8% | 18% | 8% | 16% | 11% | 13% | 11% | |
| Cost of health insurance - The amount you pay for health insurance | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 16% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 8% | 39% | |
| Personnel costs - Your labor rates | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 16% | 3% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 13% | 13% | 18% | 8% | 11% | 8% | |
| Available employees - getting enough applicants for your open position | 12 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 32% | 11% | 11% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 8% | |
| Skilled employees - Finding the talent and specific skills you need | 10 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 26% | 5% | 3% | 13% | 3% | 8% | 11% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 8% | |
| Marketing - Promoting your firm and its brand, products and services | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 8% | 3% | 5% | 11% | 5% | 8% | 5% | 26% | 8% | 11% | 11% | |
| Making sales - finding and closing sales with new customers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 0% | 16% | 0% | 22% | 16% | 8% | 16% | |
| Retention - retaining current customers | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 3% | 18% | 21% | 13% | 0% | 8% | 13% | 5% | 11% | 3% | 5% | |
| 2. CONTINUED FROM QUESTION #1...Rate each challenge below anywhere from 0 to 10, with 10 being an enormous challenge to your business and 1 being little challenge and 0 being no challenge at all for your business or not applicable. | |||||||||||
| Top number is the count of respondents selecting the option. Bottom % is percent of the total respondents selecting the option. | No Challenge or Not Applicable | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Enormous Challenge |
| Energy costs - electricity and gas | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 11% | 3% | 8% | 5% | 8% | 16% | 18% | 11% | 8% | 5% | 8% | |
| Utilities costs - Water, sewer and the like. | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 16% | 3% | 5% | 11% | 5% | 22% | 16% | 11% | 5% | 0% | 5% | |
| Workers Compensation - The cost and procedures for your workers comp | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| 29% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 13% | 8% | 3% | 13% | 5% | 16% | |
| Communications - Broadband access and voice and data services | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 21% | 8% | 3% | 8% | 11% | 21% | 13% | 5% | 8% | 0% | 3% | |
| Information - finding helpful how-to information for your business | 7 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 18% | 24% | 3% | 16% | 8% | 13% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 0% | 0% | |
| Professional development - improving your own business skills | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 5% | 21% | 5% | 11% | 5% | 26% | 13% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | |
| Legislation - New proposed laws at the state or federal level | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 8% | 5% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 5% | 14% | 8% | 14% | 24% | |
| Current regulations - Staying compliant with human resources | 9 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 24% | 5% | 3% | 11% | 5% | 8% | 3% | 14% | 3% | 3% | 22% | |
| Access to financing - Bank loans and or capital to operate or expand | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 21% | 18% | 0% | 8% | 3% | 11% | 3% | 13% | 8% | 3% | 13% | |
| Adequate cash flow - managing your cash requirements | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 16% | 5% | 3% | 11% | 3% | 13% | 0% | 16% | 8% | 8% | 18% | |
| 3. CONTINUED FROM QUESTION #1...Rate each challenge below anywhere from 0 to 10, with 10 being an enormous challenge to your business and 1 being little challenge and 0 being no challenge at all for your business or not applicable. | |||||||||||
| Top number is the count of respondents selecting the option. Bottom % is percent of the total respondents selecting the option. | No Challenge or Not Applicable | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Enormous Challenge |
| Technology - understanding and fully using technology in my business | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 3% | 13% | 3% | 13% | 0% | 18% | 3% | 32% | 8% | 3% | 5% | |
| Transportation costs - the cost of shipping materials | 8 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 21% | 16% | 8% | 16% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 13% | 8% | 5% | 0% | |
| Training - Finding education and training for me and my employees | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 32% | 18% | 5% | 8% | 3% | 13% | 5% | 11% | 3% | 3% | 0% | |
| 4. Please choose your current SINGLE biggest challenge. | |||||||||||
| Number of Response(s) | Response Ratio | ||||||||||
| The economy - The condition of the local, state and national economy | 15 | 39.4% | |||||||||
| Taxation - The amount you pay in taxes, at all levels | 3 | 7.8% | |||||||||
| Competition - Staying ahead of your private sector competitors | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Cost of health insurance - The amount you pay for health insurance | 3 | 7.8% | |||||||||
| Personnel costs - Your labor rates | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Available employees - getting enough applicants for your open positions | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Skilled employees - Finding the talent and specific skills you need | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Marketing - Promoting your firm and its brand, its products and its services | 3 | 7.8% | |||||||||
| Making sales - finding and closing sales with new customers | 5 | 13.1% | |||||||||
| Retention - retaining current customers | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Energy costs - electricity and gas | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Transportation costs - the cost of shipping raw materials or finished products | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Workers Compensation - The cost and procedures related to your workers comp | 2 | 5.2% | |||||||||
| Communications - Broadband access and voice and data services | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Information - finding helpful how-to information for your business | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Professional development - improving your own business and personal skills | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Legislation - New proposed laws at the state or federal level | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Current regulations - Staying compliant with regulations for human resources | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Access to financing - Bank loans and or other capital to operate or expand | 2 | 5.2% | |||||||||
| Adequate cash flow - managing your cash requirements | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Other | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| No Responses | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Total | 38 | 100% | |||||||||
| 5. Please choose your type of business or industry. | |||||||||||
| Number of Response(s) | Response Ratio | ||||||||||
| Agriculture | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Real Estate | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Professional and Technical Services | 9 | 23.6% | |||||||||
| Utilities | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Construction | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Manufacturing | 6 | 15.7% | |||||||||
| Educational Services | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Retail Trade | 5 | 13.1% | |||||||||
| Health Care | 3 | 7.8% | |||||||||
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Accommodations | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Information | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Finance and Insurance | 3 | 7.8% | |||||||||
| Public Administration | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||
| Other | 5 | 13.1% | |||||||||
| No Responses | 1 | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Total | 38 | 100% | |||||||||