Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Alliance of Small Enterprise
Small Business Survey 2000
Name
of Firm (Optional):
Mailing
Address (Optional):
General
Instructions: Check every box that applies to your situation. If more than one option
applies, check more than one, If none, please explain.
1. How would you describe the main activity of your business
on the First Coast?
2. Where is your business headquarters located:
at
mailing address provided above
at
different
location
City, State,
Zip Code: ( MUST BE ENTERED TO FOR FORM TO BE ACCEPTED )
3. Is this business at least 51% owned by a person or persons:
of minority status (i.e.
Hispanic, Black, Asian, American Indian)
who is female
neither of the above
no
answer
4a. How many employees total?
4b. How many employees in the First Coast Area?
5. How many persons work at this location?
Full-time
Part-time
Family
employees
Paid
employees
6. In the next year, do you expect these numbers to:
Increase
Stay
the same
Decrease
No
Answer
Why?
7. Have you had, or do you anticipate, difficulties in hiring
or retaining employees?
Yes
No
No
Answer
If yes, what is the main problem:
8. Roughly what percentage of your work force at this
location:
% Resides
in Duval
%
Relies on public transportation
%
Has English as a second language
%
Has a literacy problem
9. How long have you been in business?
Months
Years
10. Was your business previously located in another city?
Yes
No
No Answer
if so, where:
Why did your firm move/expand to the First Coast?
11. Is your firm considering moving from the First Coast?
Yes
No
No Answer
12. If yes to the above, why are you considering moving?
13. Where do you think the firm might move
to
or add additional space?
Remain within the First Coast Area
Another urban location within the State of Florida
A suburban location within the State of Florida
Outside the State
No answer
14. What are the approximate annual sales for the most recent
accounting year, generated by your business at its First Coast location?
less than $250,000
$250,000 to $500,000
$500,000 to $1 million
$1 million to $10 million
over $10 million
no answer
15. What technologies do you use in your business? Please
identify.
Accounting Software
E-Mail
Web
Site
E-Commerce
(Actual transactions on line, etc.)
16. Do you currently do business with the City of
Jacksonville?
Yes
No
No
Answer
If not why not?
17. Since you've been in business, have you used any loan
programs
or other support services provided by government agencies?
City of Jacksonville
Duval
County
State of Florida
Federal programs
Small
Business Administration
Never
used
18. Of the following services, which ones do you know about,
and which
ones have you used?
Services
Know
About
Used
No
Answer
Business
Services Center
First
Coast Black Business
Investment Corporation (BBIC)
First
Coast Micro Loan Program
Jacksonville Economic
Development
Commission (JEDC)
Jacksonville
Economic
Development
Company (JEDCO)
Service
Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE)
Small
Business Administration
UNF
Small Business
Development Center
Small
Business Resource Network
19. Overall, what do you think of the First Coast Area
as a place to do business?
5 Excellent
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Fair
1
Poor
No
Answer
20. How big of a problem do you consider each of the following
with
regard to doing business in the First Coast Area?
major
problem
no
problem
Priority
level:
1
2
3
4
5
No
answer
Availability of business financing
Availability of business assistance
Adequacy of business space
Home-base business ordinance
Availability of cost effective insurance
Cost of space/land
Utility Costs
Property taxes
Availability of skilled work force
Absenteeism/turnover
Cost of labor
Security/safety problems
Delivery/freight/loading access
Parking availability
Traffic congestion
Road conditions
Sewer problems
Regulatory/permitting burdens
General business climate
Availability of affordable housing
Quality of public schools, libraries
Adequacy of recreational facilities
Overall quality of life
Other:
21. As a small business owner, what priorities do you think
the Chamber, C.H.A.S.E. and the Alliance member organizations should focus on to improve
the business climate and promote economic development?
High
Low
Priority
level:
5
4
3
2
1
No
answer
Downtown revitalization
Increased job and skill
training
Expediting the
permitting process
Improvement of business
related
City services
Attraction of new industry
Improvement of
public transportation
Financial incentives and
assistance
Technical assistance
and information
Small business
entrepreneurial education
Infrastructure
improvements
Ethics
Other:
22. As a small business owner, if Duval County were to develop
financial programs for businesses, would you be interested
in any of the following?
High
Low
Interest level:
5
4
3
2
1
No
Answer
Tax abatement program
Low interest working capital
Information on
state/federal funding
Grants/loans for
capital improvements
Loan guarantee program
23. As a small business owner, would you be interested in any
of
the following:
High
Low
Priority level:
1
2
3
4
5
No
answer
Compliance with
environmental regulations
Advice on site improvements
Advice on
building improvements
Database of vacant properties
Basic skills training
for employees
Technical training /
Upgrading education
Workflow analysis /
job restructuring
Financial assessment and referral
Loan packaging
Entrepreneurial education
Compliance with local and state regulations
Government regulations
Marketing understanding /
financial statements
Cash flow management
Business succession planning
Business planning in general
E-commerce
Legal issues involved
in setting up
a small business
Other:
24. If the City were to increase expenditures for public
services and
infrastructure improvements, which do you consider important
to your business:
High
Low
Interest level:
1
2
3
4
5
No
answer
Road improvements
Street lighting improvements
Increased police surveillance
Increased fire protection
Imporved trash collection
Strong recycling program
Rehabilitation of sewer system
Stormwater control
Day care program/referrals
Other:
25. Are you interested in supporting a small business
political action
committee that would identify and financially and otherwise support
candidates who are responsive to the needs of small business?
Yes
No
Maybe
No
answer
If maybe, what would be your reservation/concerns:
(Optional Information)
Name of person who completed this questionnaire:
Company position/title:
Business phone number:
May we contact you?
Yes
No
Are you interested in becoming involved with the Chamber
Alliance of
Small Enterprises?
