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|
Small Business California Annual Survey
Report created on:
Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
|
| 1. Would you say that things in California are
generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are
pretty seriously off on the wrong track? |
| Right direction |
 |
169 |
40% |
| Wrong track |
|
174 |
42% |
| DON'T KNOW / NA |
|
75 |
18% |
| 2. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and
5 being the highest) Please rate the following items about
California. |
Top number is the count of
respondents selecting the option.
Bottom % is percent of the total
respondents selecting the option. |
Very Poor |
Poor |
Only fair |
Good |
Excellent |
| a. The economy |
3
1% |
26
6% |
172
41% |
207
50% |
10
2% |
| b. The business climate |
20
5% |
80
19% |
197
47% |
118
28% |
3
1% |
| c. The business climate for small businesses |
62
15% |
130
31% |
167
40% |
54
13% |
5
1% |
| 3. Over the next few years, do you think the
business climate for small businesses in California will get much better,
somewhat better, somewhat worse, much worse or stay about the same? |
| Much better |
|
8 |
2% |
| Somewhat better |
|
118 |
28% |
| Somewhat worse |
|
140 |
33% |
| Much worse |
|
51 |
12% |
| About the same |
|
77 |
18% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
25 |
6% |
| 4. Here are some issues affecting small
businesses that people have said should be addressed by your elected
officials in Sacramento. For each one I read, please tell me whether you
think it should be the top priority for your elected officials, a high
priority, a medium priority, a low priority, or not a priority at all for
your elected officials in Sacramento. |
Top number is the count of
respondents selecting the option.
Bottom % is percent of the total
respondents selecting the option. |
Not a Priority |
Low Priority |
Medium Priority |
High Priority |
Highest/ Top Priority |
| The worker's compensation system |
3
1% |
19
5% |
117
28% |
186
44% |
93
22% |
| The availability and rising cost of health care |
2
0% |
7
2% |
39
9% |
125
30% |
245
59% |
| Too much regulation of small businesses |
7
2% |
26
6% |
123
29% |
137
33% |
125
30% |
| Access to capital |
16
4% |
81
19% |
191
46% |
102
24% |
28
7% |
| The cost of energy |
9
2% |
41
10% |
151
36% |
148
35% |
69
17% |
| Reducing state taxes |
13
3% |
36
9% |
136
33% |
139
33% |
94
22% |
| The quality of public education |
8
2% |
20
5% |
72
17% |
123
29% |
195
47% |
| Awarding state contracts to small businesses |
22
5% |
38
9% |
154
37% |
135
32% |
69
17% |
| Encouraging international trade |
42
10% |
84
20% |
168
40% |
94
22% |
30
7% |
| Repairing and enhancing the State's infrastructure |
2
0% |
27
6% |
102
24% |
197
47% |
90
22% |
| Wage and hour regulations |
28
7% |
64
15% |
162
39% |
113
27% |
51
12% |
| Immigration |
21
5% |
43
10% |
79
19% |
100
24% |
175
42% |
| 5. Based on what you know about the reforms to
the State's workers compensation system. How well do you think your
employees are being served? |
| Better |
|
138 |
33% |
| Worse |
|
30 |
7% |
| No change |
|
157 |
38% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
94 |
22% |
| 6. I am going to read you some proposals
addressing health care. Please tell me if you would strongly support,
somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose that proposal. |
Top number is the count of respondents
selecting the option.
Bottom % is percent of the total respondents
selecting the option. |
Strongly Oppose |
Somewhat Oppose |
Somewhat Support |
Strongly Support |
| A shared responsibility plan where employers, employees
and the government would be required to pay for health insurance. |
79
19% |
91
22% |
166
40% |
82
20% |
| A single-payer system similar to what Canada has where the
government finances health care but keeps the delivery of health care to
mostly private sources |
148
35% |
78
19% |
108
26% |
84
20% |
| Provide tax credits to low income workers to help them pay
for health care |
64
15% |
77
18% |
184
44% |
93
22% |
| Expand the Healthy Families state health insurance program
so that more children can qualify |
42
10% |
76
18% |
182
44% |
118
28% |
| Create purchasing pools for small businesses to make
health insurance more affordable for small companies |
14
3% |
23
6% |
135
32% |
246
59% |
| A plan that ensures every child in California has health
insurance |
51
12% |
72
17% |
155
37% |
140
33% |
| An additional tax on tobacco products and alcohol to
provide emergency health care services |
119
28% |
93
22% |
93
22% |
113
27% |
| 7. Now, turning to energy, have you done
anything recently to lower your company's energy bill? |
| Yes |
|
270 |
65% |
| No |
|
115 |
28% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
32 |
8% |
| 8. Are you aware that you contribute monthly
through your utility bill to small business energy efficiency programs?
|
| Yes |
|
126 |
30% |
| No |
|
254 |
61% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
39 |
9% |
| 9. Here are some proposals addressing other
issues that may affect small businesses. For each one, please tell me
whether you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly
oppose that proposal. |
Top number is the count of respondents
selecting the option.
Bottom % is percent of the total respondents
selecting the option. |
Strongly Oppose |
Somewhat Oppose |
Somewhat Support |
Strongly Support |
| A cell phone bill of rights to protect consumers and
businesses |
14
3% |
48
11% |
207
50% |
149
36% |
| Legislation requiring public pension plans, such as
CALPERS (CAL-PERS), to invest a portion of their funds into emerging and
small businesses in California |
52
12% |
97
23% |
178
43% |
91
22% |
| Require state agencies to consider the impact of policies
on small business before they issue final regulations |
2
0% |
11
3% |
103
25% |
302
72% |
| Expand opportunities for vocational and technical training
|
11
3% |
26
6% |
160
38% |
221
53% |
| 10. In thinking about education, which higher
education institution provides better job training skills for the needs of
your company? |
| Community and technical colleges |
|
144 |
34% |
| Four year colleges and universities |
|
48 |
11% |
| BOTH of the above |
|
152 |
36% |
| NEITHER of the above |
|
58 |
14% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
19 |
5% |
| 11. What effect, if any, does the underground
economy - including businesses that pay employees "under the table" and
those that misclassify employees as consultants or contractors in order to
avoid payroll taxes, workers' comp, and other benefits - have on your
business? |
| Significant impact |
|
130 |
31% |
| Marginal impact |
|
116 |
28% |
| No impact at all |
|
102 |
24% |
| Don't know / does not apply to my business |
|
71 |
17% |
| 12. How many full-time employees does your
company have? |
| 1-4 |
|
147 |
35% |
| 5-9 |
|
58 |
14% |
| 10-19 |
|
86 |
21% |
| 20-49 |
|
62 |
15% |
| 50-99 |
|
28 |
7% |
| 100-249 |
|
8 |
2% |
| 250+ |
|
10 |
2% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
21 |
5% |
| 13. What is your official title or position
within the company |
| Partner |
|
45 |
11% |
| President |
|
162 |
39% |
| Chief Executive Officer, C.E.O. |
|
65 |
16% |
| Chief Operating Officer, C.O.O. |
|
12 |
3% |
| Chief Information Officer, C.I.O. |
|
1 |
0% |
| Vice President |
|
29 |
7% |
| Director/Managing Director |
|
28 |
7% |
| Controller/ Treasurer |
|
18 |
4% |
| Other |
|
97 |
23% |
| 14. Does your company offer health insurance to
its employees? |
| Yes |
|
287 |
69% |
| No |
|
108 |
26% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
24 |
6% |
| 15. Do you require an employee contribution?
|
| Yes |
|
161 |
40% |
| No |
|
166 |
42% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
75 |
19% |
| 16. Do you offer health savings accounts?
|
| Yes |
|
65 |
16% |
| No |
|
305 |
73% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
48 |
11% |
| 17. Are you registered to vote? If yes, are you
registered as a Democrat, Republican or other? |
| Yes, Democrat |
|
129 |
31% |
| Yes, Republican |
|
196 |
47% |
| Yes, Not Affiliated with a political party |
|
64 |
15% |
| Yes, other party |
|
12 |
3% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
16 |
4% |
| 18. Which political party better represents the
interests of small businesses: Democrats or Republicans, both equally, or
neither? |
| Democrats |
|
57 |
14% |
| Republicans |
|
154 |
37% |
| BOTH of the above |
|
34 |
8% |
| NEITHER of the above |
|
137 |
33% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
36 |
9% |
| 19. With which racial or ethnic group do you
identify yourself? |
| Anglo/White |
|
324 |
81% |
| African-American or Black |
|
9 |
2% |
| Hispanic or Latino |
|
26 |
7% |
| Asian |
|
25 |
6% |
| Native American/Indian |
|
1 |
0% |
| Other |
|
16 |
4% |
| Don't Know / NA |
|
4 |
1% |
| 20. In what year were you born? |
| 1984-1978 |
|
2 |
0% |
| 1977-1973 |
|
7 |
2% |
| 1972-1968 |
|
32 |
8% |
| 1967-1963 |
|
44 |
11% |
| 1962-1958 |
|
62 |
15% |
| 1957-1953 |
|
67 |
17% |
| 1952-1948 |
|
99 |
24% |
| 1947-1943 |
|
48 |
12% |
| 1942-1938 |
|
28 |
7% |
| 1937-1928 |
|
17 |
4% |
| 1927 or earlier (75+) |
|
0 |
0% |
| 21. What is your gender? |
| Male |
|
262 |
64% |
| Female |
|
148 |
36% |
| 22. What county is your business located?
|
| Alameda County |
|
34 |
9% |
| Alpine County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Amador County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Butte County |
|
6 |
2% |
| Calaveras County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Colusa County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Contra Costa County |
|
9 |
2% |
| Del Norte County |
|
15 |
4% |
| El Dorado County |
|
2 |
1% |
| Fresno County |
|
8 |
2% |
| Glenn County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Humboldt County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Imperial County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Inyo County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Kern County |
|
2 |
1% |
| Kings County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Lake County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Lassen County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Los Angeles County |
|
32 |
8% |
| Madera County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Marin County |
|
9 |
2% |
| Mariposa County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Mendocino County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Merced County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Modoc County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Mono County |
|
0 |
0% |
| Monterey County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Napa County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Nevada County |
|
2 |
1% |
| Orange County |
|
17 |
4% |
| Placer County |
|
3 |
1% |
| Plumas County |
|
9 |
2% |
| Riverside County |
|
5 |
1% |
| Sacramento County |
|
18 |
5% |
| San Benito County |
|
0 |
0% |
| San Bernardino County |
|
33 |
8% |
| San Diego County |
|
16 |
4% |
| San Francisco County |
|
86 |
22% |
| San Joaquin County |
|
1 |
0% |
| San Luis Obispo County |
|
5 |
1% |
| San Mateo County |
|
16 |
4% |
| Santa Barbara County |
|
4 |
1% |
| Santa Clara County |
|
15 |
4% |
| Santa Cruz County |
|
2 |
1% |
| Shasta County |
|
9 |
2% |
| Sierra County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Siskiyou County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Solano County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Sonoma County |
|
8 |
2% |
| Stanislaus County |
|
2 |
1% |
| Sutter County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Tehama County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Trinity County |
|
5 |
1% |
| Tulare County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Tuolumne County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Ventura County |
|
3 |
1% |
| Yolo County |
|
4 |
1% |
| Yuba County |
|
1 |
0% |
| Total |
396 |
100% |
| 23. How is your business organized? |
| Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) |
|
41 |
10% |
| Schedule C Corporation |
|
111 |
27% |
| Schedule S Corporation |
|
127 |
31% |
| Independent Contractor |
|
39 |
10% |
| Other, please specify |
|
80 |
20% |
|
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