Small Business LA CL Survey

Hagen/Sinclair Research is looking for panel members in the Los Angeles area to participate in a PAID FOCUS GROUP about small businesses.

INCENTIVE: Participants completing the group will be paid $300.

DATE/TIME: Groups take place on March 5-6, 2013.

FORMAT: Small focus groups being held in Los Angeles in the form of 2-hour creative workshops.

If you are interested in participating, please provide the following information. If your answers pre-qualify you for the study, one of our recruiters will call you to complete the screening process.

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* 1. Demographics:

Name:

Company Name:

Address 1:

Address 2:

City/Town:

State/Province:

ZIP/Postal Code:

Email Address:

Daytime Phone Number:

Evening or Cell Phone:

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* 2. What is your gender?

Male

Female

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* 3. Do you, your spouse/partner or any members of your household, fall into any of the categories below?

Work in marketing research or for a marketing research consulting company

Work in marketing strategy or marketing communications

Work in an advertising, publishing, digital communications or public relations firm

Work in online programming or development of content for the internet

Work in banking, financial services, investment, accounting or bookkeeping

Work in any financial, business, IT or systems consulting

None of these

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* 4. When was the last time you participated in a market research project (i.e. focus group discussion or one-on-one interview)?

Less than 6 months ago

6-12 months ago or more

1 year or more

Never participated before

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* 5. What is your current title or position?

I am the owner/co-owner/partner of a business

President/CEO/Partner

Office Manager

Other (please specify)

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* 6. How much influence do you have in the selection of software and services used for financial or other business management tasks at your company?

I would make the final decision

I would heavily influence, but do not have the final approval

I would have some or little influence

I would have no input into the decision

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* 7. How would you describe the type of business or industry that you are in?

Accounting or bookkeeping

Advertising/public relations

Construction/contracting

Consulting services

Architecture, engineering

Graphic design or photography

IT/Information technology

Law firm/legal services

Manufacturing

Marketing/marketing research

Medical (dental, health services)

Non-profit, religious organizations

Property Management

Retail store

Restaurant/café

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Is your store a part of a franchise or a national chain?

Yes

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* 9. Do you sell products directly to customers?

Yes

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* 10. How would you describe how and where your company sells to customers?

We have a physical shop or storefront location

We have both a physical store(s) and sell online

We only sell online

We sell away from a store – in the field, on the road

We do not have a physical shop or storefront location

We do not currently have a physical shop or storefront location but plan to open one within the next four months

We don’t have a physical shop or storefront and we do not plan to open one within the next four months

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* 11. How long have you been in business?

Less than 6 months

At least 6 months, but no more than 2 years

At least 2 years, but less than 3 years

At least 3 years, but less than 4years

5+ years

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* 12. Is your store open full- or part-time?

Full time

Part-time

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* 13. What are the ways your business receives payments from customers?

In-person at the store

In-person at our office location

In-person at a customer’s location, e.g., someone’s home or construction job site

In-person in a form of transportation, at fairs, trade shows, seasonal events or markets etc

Over the phone or by regular mail or email

Through your business website (NOT eBay or etsy, etc.)

Through a web store hosted in a virtual mall

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Do any of the following apply to your business?

Spend at least 20 hours per week on the business

Have at least one customer or client

Rent or occupy a location outside of my residence for business use

Have at least 1 employee or partner

File taxes under a tax ID (vs. a social security number)

Have or have applied for a business license

Track business and personal finances separately

Is the primary source of my total income

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* 15. How much inventory do you carry for the business? (SKU = Stock Keeping Unit)

Fewer than 10 SKUs

10-400 SKUs

Over 400- fewer than 600 SKUs

Over 700- fewer than 1,000 SKUs

1,000 SKUs or more

We don’t carry any inventory

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* 16. Because we are looking at many different types of business and need to get a good mix of different sizes; which of the following categories best describes your company’s total annual revenue for the most recent year?

Less than $30,000

More than $30,000, but less than $50,000

More than $50,000, but less than $100,000

More than $100,000, but less than $250,000

More than $250,000, but less than $500,000

More than $500,000, but less than $1million

More than $1million, but less than $5 million

More than $5 million

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* 17. In the next 12-24 months is this revenue likely to….?

Grow significantly

Grow steadily, but slowly

Remain stable/unchanged

Drop slightly

Drop significantly (e.g. if planning to close down the business/retire)

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* 18. Do you use any of the following to do your work?

Desktop computer

Laptop computer

Tablet

Smartphone

None of these, do not use any technology at all

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* 19. Have you considered using a tablet/iPad for the business?

Yes, I am already using a tablet as a business tool

Yes, currently looking into this option

Yes, but haven’t got around to it yet

Maybe

Not sure

No, would never consider

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* 20. Do you have access to the internet at your place of business?

Yes

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* 21. When a new technology becomes available, which of the following statements best describes your typical behavior?

I am one of the first people to use the new technology

I use the new technology after a few others are using it

I use the new technology after most others are using it

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* 22. Does your business have a website?

No, not something we feel we need

No, we are working on it

Yes

Business website url:

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* 23. Which of the following methods does your company primarily use to record and track sales?

Receipt pad and calculator

Cash register (not electronic)

Electronic cash register

Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet/database program, e.g., Access

QuickBooks Financial software

Accounting of financial software other than QuickBooks

Personal Finance or checkbook software program such as Quicken

QuickBooks Cash Register Plus

QuickBooks Point of Sale (POS)

Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS)

Microsoft POS

Retail Pro

AccuPOS Retail

Web-based point of sale solution such as Halo, effortlessE, etc.

We don't record and track sales transactions

Other point of sale software (please specify)

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* 24. How interested are you in upgrading or replacing your current POS systems?

Very interested

Somewhat interested

Neither interested nor disinterested

Not very interested

Not at all interested

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* 25. How interested are you in using a POS system for your business?

Very interested

Somewhat interested

Neither interested nor disinterested

Not very interested

Not at all interested

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* 26. When it comes to business software, are there any providers you would NEVER consider buying services from?

Microsoft

Apple

Adobe

Sage

QuickBooks

Intuit

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* 27. What is your role when it comes to handling business finances? What is your approach to running the business?

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* 28. Which of the following best represents your level of education?

Some high school/GCSE or equivalent

High school graduate

Trade or technical school

Some college/university

College/university graduate

Post graduate degree

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* 29. What is your age?

21 years old or younger

22-25 years old

26-34 years old

35-44 years old

45-50 years old

51 years old or older

Thank you for taking the time to fill out our survey. A recruiter will call you to complete the screening process if your answers are a match to the study qualifications.

This is a legitimate paid market research study. To verify, go to our website: WWW.HAGENSINCLAIR.COM. If you want to receive personal invitations to future studies click the PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION LINK and sign up. We will contact you if a project arises that looks like a good fit for you. Thanks again!