2014 First Business Economic Survey Question Title * 1. Your company location/headquarters: Dane County Greater Milwaukee Area Northeast Wisconsin Kenosha/Racine Other (please specify) Question Title * 2. Your target market (please check all that apply): Dane County Greater Milwaukee Area Northeast Wisconsin Kenosha/Racine State of Wisconsin Midwest Nationwide International Other (please specify) Question Title * 3. Number of employees: 1-4 5-19 20-99 100-499 500+ Question Title * 4. Primary business type: Manufacturing Retail Service Technology Nonprofit Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. Business classification: Business to Business Business to Consumer Both Question Title * 6. We would like to understand the changes in your business from calendar year 2013 to calendar year 2014. Please choose the option that best describes the following factors in your organization and check the appropriate box. 10+% Decrease 7-9% Decrease 4-6% Decrease 1-3% Decrease No Change 1-3% Increase 4-6% Increase 7-9% Increase 10+% Increase Sales Revenue Sales Revenue 10+% Decrease Sales Revenue 7-9% Decrease Sales Revenue 4-6% Decrease Sales Revenue 1-3% Decrease Sales Revenue No Change Sales Revenue 1-3% Increase Sales Revenue 4-6% Increase Sales Revenue 7-9% Increase Sales Revenue 10+% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 10+% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 7-9% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 4-6% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 1-3% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue No Change Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 1-3% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 4-6% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 7-9% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 10+% Increase Capital Expenditures Capital Expenditures 10+% Decrease Capital Expenditures 7-9% Decrease Capital Expenditures 4-6% Decrease Capital Expenditures 1-3% Decrease Capital Expenditures No Change Capital Expenditures 1-3% Increase Capital Expenditures 4-6% Increase Capital Expenditures 7-9% Increase Capital Expenditures 10+% Increase Profitability Profitability 10+% Decrease Profitability 7-9% Decrease Profitability 4-6% Decrease Profitability 1-3% Decrease Profitability No Change Profitability 1-3% Increase Profitability 4-6% Increase Profitability 7-9% Increase Profitability 10+% Increase Number of Employees Number of Employees 10+% Decrease Number of Employees 7-9% Decrease Number of Employees 4-6% Decrease Number of Employees 1-3% Decrease Number of Employees No Change Number of Employees 1-3% Increase Number of Employees 4-6% Increase Number of Employees 7-9% Increase Number of Employees 10+% Increase Change in Wages Change in Wages 10+% Decrease Change in Wages 7-9% Decrease Change in Wages 4-6% Decrease Change in Wages 1-3% Decrease Change in Wages No Change Change in Wages 1-3% Increase Change in Wages 4-6% Increase Change in Wages 7-9% Increase Change in Wages 10+% Increase Change in Pricing Change in Pricing 10+% Decrease Change in Pricing 7-9% Decrease Change in Pricing 4-6% Decrease Change in Pricing 1-3% Decrease Change in Pricing No Change Change in Pricing 1-3% Increase Change in Pricing 4-6% Increase Change in Pricing 7-9% Increase Change in Pricing 10+% Increase Question Title * 7. We would like to understand the changes you forecast for 2015 compared to actual performance in calendar year 2014. Please choose the option that best describes the following factors in your organization and check the appropriate box. 10+% Decrease 7-9% Decrease 4-6% Decrease 1-3% Decrease No Change 1-3% Increase 4-6% Increase 7-9% Increase 10+% Increase Sales Revenue Sales Revenue 10+% Decrease Sales Revenue 7-9% Decrease Sales Revenue 4-6% Decrease Sales Revenue 1-3% Decrease Sales Revenue No Change Sales Revenue 1-3% Increase Sales Revenue 4-6% Increase Sales Revenue 7-9% Increase Sales Revenue 10+% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 10+% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 7-9% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 4-6% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 1-3% Decrease Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue No Change Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 1-3% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 4-6% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 7-9% Increase Total Operating Costs as a % of Revenue 10+% Increase Capital Expenditures Capital Expenditures 10+% Decrease Capital Expenditures 7-9% Decrease Capital Expenditures 4-6% Decrease Capital Expenditures 1-3% Decrease Capital Expenditures No Change Capital Expenditures 1-3% Increase Capital Expenditures 4-6% Increase Capital Expenditures 7-9% Increase Capital Expenditures 10+% Increase Profitability Profitability 10+% Decrease Profitability 7-9% Decrease Profitability 4-6% Decrease Profitability 1-3% Decrease Profitability No Change Profitability 1-3% Increase Profitability 4-6% Increase Profitability 7-9% Increase Profitability 10+% Increase Number of Employees Number of Employees 10+% Decrease Number of Employees 7-9% Decrease Number of Employees 4-6% Decrease Number of Employees 1-3% Decrease Number of Employees No Change Number of Employees 1-3% Increase Number of Employees 4-6% Increase Number of Employees 7-9% Increase Number of Employees 10+% Increase Change in Wages Change in Wages 10+% Decrease Change in Wages 7-9% Decrease Change in Wages 4-6% Decrease Change in Wages 1-3% Decrease Change in Wages No Change Change in Wages 1-3% Increase Change in Wages 4-6% Increase Change in Wages 7-9% Increase Change in Wages 10+% Increase Change in Pricing Change in Pricing 10+% Decrease Change in Pricing 7-9% Decrease Change in Pricing 4-6% Decrease Change in Pricing 1-3% Decrease Change in Pricing No Change Change in Pricing 1-3% Increase Change in Pricing 4-6% Increase Change in Pricing 7-9% Increase Change in Pricing 10+% Increase Question Title * 8. We would like to understand the issues your business is facing regarding "unused" capacity. In terms of maximum operating capacity (100%), where is your organization currently performing? (0-100%) Question Title * 9. We would like to understand your business performance in 2014 compared to your expectations. In terms of overall performance compared to your expectations in 2014, did you: Exceed Expectations Meet Expectations Perform Below Expectations Question Title * 10. If you performed below expectations in 2014, to what would you attribute this lower performance (check all that apply)? Domestic Sales Shortfall International Sales Shortfall Domestic Competition International Competition Technology Changes Insufficient Cash Flow State Government Regulations Federal Gov't Regulations Political Unrest/War Higher Operating Costs Staffing Issues Rising Gas Prices Slow Down in Housing Market Other (please specify) Question Title * 11. We would like to understand the issues your business will be facing going forward into 2015. By what percentage do you expect your expenses to change for 2015 over 2014? (e.g., -8% or +4.5%) Question Title * 12. How much of THAT change in expenses do you expect to pass on to your customers? (e.g., all=100%, none=0%) Question Title * 13. Please select the THREE OPTIONS that contributed most to improved company performance in 2014: Reduced staffing Invested in new talent Reduced salaries Introduced performance based compensation plan Increased sales efforts Increased marketing efforts Increased prices Expanded product offerings Improved internal efficiencies Entered new geographic market Competitor closed doors or was acquired Other (please specify) Question Title * 14. Do you think your business will perform better or worse overall in 2015 compared to 2014? Better Worse Why? Question Title * 15. Which category includes your job position within your company: Business Owner / President / CEO / Executive Director CFO / COO / Controller / Treasurer Manager / Support Staff Other (please specify) Question Title * 16. (OPTIONAL) To get a copy of the results, please provide your email address. Done