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Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415)680-2188                                  info@smallbusinesscalifornia.org
Survey Results
Small Business California Annual Survey
Report created on:  Tuesday, March 21, 2006 10:02:00 AM 		    
 

     for comments on the survey below, click here

    
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


126
30%
Wrong track
245 58%
DON'T KNOW / NA
54 13%

 

    
2. Please rate the following items about California as either excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor.
1
Excellent 		2
Pretty good 		3
Only fair 		4
Poor 		N/A
1. The economy 4%
17 		45%
192 		43%
186 		8%
35 		0%
1
2. The business climate 1%
6 		22%
94 		52%
225 		25%
106 		0%
0
3. The business climate for small businesses 2%
10 		14%
59 		34%
145 		50%
217 		0%
0

 

    
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


6
1%
Somewhat better
105 24%
Somewhat worse
145 34%
Much worse
46 11%
About the same
104 24%
Don't Know / NA
23 5%
  429 100%

 

    
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, or a low priority for your elected officials in Sacramento.
1
Top priority 		2
High priority 		3
Medium priority 		4
Low priority 		N/A
1. The worker’s compensation system 40%
171 		43%
185 		13%
54 		4%
15 		1%
3
2. The availability and rising cost of health care 64%
272 		27%
116 		7%
32 		2%
8 		0%
0
3. Too much regulation of small businesses 34%
145 		33%
143 		27%
115 		6%
25 		0%
1
4. Access to capital 15%
62 		25%
105 		41%
177 		18%
77 		1%
6
5. The cost of energy 26%
112 		35%
151 		29%
124 		9%
37 		1%
3
6. Reducing state taxes 24%
103 		32%
137 		34%
143 		8%
36 		1%
6
7. The quality of public education 48%
204 		30%
127 		18%
79 		4%
15 		1%
3
8. Awarding state contracts to small businesses 25%
105 		33%
142 		30%
128 		11%
47 		1%
5
9. Encouraging international trade 9%
40 		24%
102 		41%
174 		23%
98 		2%
10
10. Repairing and enhancing the State’s infrastructure 35%
150 		38%
160 		22%
93 		4%
17 		1%
3

 

    
5. In the past year or two, have worker’s compensation rates in California increased a lot, increased a little, decreased a little, decreased a lot, or stayed about the same?

Increased a lot


75
17%
Increased a little
59 14%
Decreased a little
177 41%
Decreased a lot
31 7%
Stayed about the same
26 6%
Don't Know / NA
61 14%
  429 100%

 

    
6. 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


69
16%
Worse
44 10%
No change
210 49%
Don't Know / NA
106 25%
  429 100%

 

    
7. 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.
1
Strongly support 		2
Somewhat support 		3
Somewhat oppose 		4
Strongly oppose 		N/A
1. An individual mandate that would require every person to buy their own health insurance, just like with auto insurance 16%
67 		24%
103 		24%
102 		34%
144 		2%
10
2. 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 24%
101 		28%
121 		16%
68 		30%
129 		2%
9
3. Provide tax credits to low income workers to help them pay for health care 25%
104 		43%
184 		17%
70 		14%
60 		1%
5
4. Expand the Health Families state health insurance program so that more children can qualify 32%
136 		37%
155 		17%
74 		8%
34 		6%
25
5. Require small businesses to pay a minimum of $100 per month, per employee, to a fund for the uninsured, if they don’t provide health insurance. 8%
32 		16%
66 		16%
68 		60%
254 		1%
5
6. Create purchasing pools for small businesses to make health insurance more affordable for small companies 58%
247 		32%
134 		7%
28 		2%
10 		1%
6
7. A plan that ensures every child in California has health insurance 37%
158 		35%
147 		15%
62 		11%
48 		2%
10
8. An additional tax on tobacco products and alcohol to provide emergency health care services 32%
134 		24%
103 		16%
69 		26%
111 		2%
7

 

    
8. Now, turning to energy, have you done anything recently to lower your company’s energy bill?

Yes


263
62%
No
137 32%
Don't know/NA
27 6%
  427 100%

 

    
9. Are you aware that you contribute monthly through your utility bill to small business energy efficiency programs?

Yes


141
33%
No
257 60%
Don't know/NA
31 7%
  429 100%

 

    
10. 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.
1
Strongly support 		2
Somewhat support 		3
Somewhat oppose 		4
Strongly oppose 		N/A
1. A cell phone bill of rights to protect consumers and businesses 42%
179 		37%
160 		7%
29 		4%
17 		10%
43
2. Legislation requiring public pension plans, such as CALPERS (CAL-PERS), to invest a portion of their funds into emerging and small businesses in California 19%
83 		37%
159 		21%
88 		16%
67 		7%
32
3. Require state agencies to consider the impact of policies on small business before they issue final regulations 70%
300 		27%
116 		2%
8 		1%
3 		0%
2
4. Expand opportunities for vocational and technical training 49%
208 		42%
181 		5%
20 		2%
10 		2%
8

 

    
11. In thinking about education, which higher education institution provides better job training skills for the needs of your company?

Community and technical colleges


112
26%
Four year colleges and universities
66 15%
BOTH of the above
183 43%
NEITHER of the above
48 11%
Don't Know / NA
20 5%
  429 100%

 

    
HERE ARE MY FINAL QUESTIONS. THEY ARE JUST FOR CLASSIFICATION PURPOSES

 

    
12. How many full-time employees does your company have?

1-4


167
39%
5-9
70 16%
10-19
65 15%
20-49
64 15%
50-99
22 5%
100-249
15 4%
250+
11 3%
Don't Know / NA
13 3%
  427 100%

 

    
13. What is your official title or position within the company

Partner


43
10%
President
165 38%
Chief Executive Officer, C.E.O.
64 15%
Chief Operating Officer, C.O.O.
13 3%
Chief Information Officer, C.I.O.
2 0%
Vice President
25 6%
Director/Managing Director
19 4%
Controller/ Treasurer
15 3%
Don't Know / NA
7 2%
  Other, Please Specify
76 18%
  429 100%

 

    
14. Does your company offer health insurance to its employees?

Yes


283
66%
No
124 29%
Don't know/NA
20 5%
  427 100%

 

    
15. Do you require an employee contribution?

Yes


158
37%
No
187 44%
Don't know/NA
78 18%
  423 100%

 

    
16. Do you offer health savings accounts?

Yes


45
11%
No
342 80%
Don't know/NA
39 9%
  426 100%

 

    
17. What effect, if any, does the underground economy, such as through the paying of products and services using barter, have on your business.

Significant impact


46
11%
Marginal impact
87 20%
No impact at all
203 47%
Don’t know / does not apply to my business
93 22%
  429 100%

 

    
18. Are you registered to vote? If yes, are you registered as a Democrat, Republican or other?

Yes, Democrat


152
36%
Yes, Republican
184 43%
Yes, Independent
46 11%
Yes, other party
17 4%
No, not registered
9 2%
Don't Know / NA
15 4%
  423 100%

 

    
19. Which political party better represents the interests of small businesses: Democrats or Republicans, both equally, or neither?

Democrats


60
14%
Republicans
165 39%
BOTH of the above
29 7%
NEITHER of the above
148 35%
Don't Know / NA
24 6%
  426 100%

 

    
20. With which racial or ethnic group do you identify yourself

Anglo/White


329
78%
African-American or Black
15 4%
Hispanic or Latino
20 5%
Asian
27 6%
Native American/Indian
2 0%
Other
17 4%
Don't Know / NA
12 3%
  422 100%

 

    
21. In what year were you born?

1984-1978 (18-24)


4
1%
1977-1973 (25-29)
7 2%
1972-1968 (30-34)
34 8%
1967-1963 (35-39)
26 6%
1962-1958 (40-44)
78 19%
1957-1953 (45-49)
60 14%
1952-1948 (50-54)
91 22%
1947-1943 (55-59)
61 15%
1942-1938 (60-64)
33 8%
1937-1928 (65-74)
23 5%
1927 or earlier (75+)
3 1%
  420 100%

 

    
22. What is your gender?

Male


263
62%
Female
158 38%
  421 100%

 

 

 
Small Business California 2311 Taraval Street San Francisco, CA 94116  |  (415)680-2188  |  info@smallbusinesscalifornia.org