2012 Small Business Outlook

What effect is the US economy having on your small business? How do you think things will shake out in 2012? Take the Business Know-How small business outlook survey below and let us know your thoughts. We'll be analyzing the results and publishing them on the BusinessKnowHow.com website and in our newsletter. Please note: Your answers on the survey are completely anonymous. We do not record any email addresses.

Question Title

* 1. Which of the following best describes you?

Owner/top executive of a public corporation

Owner/top executive of a private corporation

Member of a partnership

Self-employed with employees

Self-employed with no employees other than yourself

Work as an employee and also have my own business

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. Do you work full-time or part-time in your business?

Full-time

Part-time

Question Title

* 3. What type of business do you run? (example:web designer, landscaping, clothing manufacturer, sandwich shop franchisee, etc.)

Question Title

* 4. How many people are employed in your business?

1 - just myself

2-4

5-10

10-25

25-50

More than 50

Question Title

* 5. How do you expect business to be in 2012 compared to 2011?

Much more profitable

Somewhat more profitable

About the same

A little less profitable

Much less profitable

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. How long have you been running your business?

Less than 1 year

1 to 3 years

4 to 5 years

6 to 10 years

More than 10 years

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. What is the primary country in which you do business?

United States

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. How will the number of people who work for you change in 2012?

I don't expect any changes

I expect to increase the number of people I employee this year

I expect I will have to layoff people this year

I expect to use more subcontractors this year

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. How have your business finances been impacted by current economic conditions?

There's been no change

Customers are taking longer to pay

We've had to borrow (more) money

We can't get the loans or credit we need

The interest rate we pay for our line of credit or credit cards has increased

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. What changes, if any, have you made to help your business survive and grow?

Question Title

* 11. In addition to the economy, which of the issues below are of most concern to you?

Difficulty in securing a loan or other financing

Cost of health insurance

Inability to find good workers at a price you can afford

Inability to find good workers at any price

High taxes

Government regulations (other than taxes)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. What, if anything, do you think the government should do to help small businesses get through the tough economic times?

Question Title

* 13. What effect has the Internet had on your business?

My business is Internet-based. It wouldn't exist without the Internet

My business has become more profitable because of the Internet

The Internet has made my business less profitable

The Internet has made no change in my business

I don't use the Internet in my business

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. What is your gender?

Male

Female

Prefer not to answer

Question Title

* 15. What is your age?

Under 20

20 to 29

30 to 39

40 to 49

50 to 59

60 to 69

Over 70

Prefer not to say

Question Title

* 16. How profitable has it been up to now to own a business or work for yourself?

I have been making more money than I would ever make as an employee

I have been making about the same as I would as an employee

I have been making somewhat less money than I'd make as an employee

I've been discovering new ways to stretch a pound of macaroni

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 17. What were your gross annual sales last year?

Under $25000

$25,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $149,000

$150,000 to $199,000

$200,000 to $499,999

$500,000 to $1 million

Over 1 million

Prefer not to say

Question Title

* 1. Which of the following best describes you?

Question Title

* 2. Do you work full-time or part-time in your business?

Question Title

* 3. What type of business do you run? (example:web designer, landscaping, clothing manufacturer, sandwich shop franchisee, etc.)

Question Title

* 4. How many people are employed in your business?

Question Title

* 5. How do you expect business to be in 2012 compared to 2011?

Question Title

* 6. How long have you been running your business?

Question Title

* 7. What is the primary country in which you do business?

Question Title

* 8. How will the number of people who work for you change in 2012?

Question Title

* 9. How have your business finances been impacted by current economic conditions?

Question Title

* 10. What changes, if any, have you made to help your business survive and grow?

Question Title

* 11. In addition to the economy, which of the issues below are of most concern to you?

Question Title

* 12. What, if anything, do you think the government should do to help small businesses get through the tough economic times?

Question Title

* 13. What effect has the Internet had on your business?

Question Title

* 14. What is your gender?

Question Title

* 15. What is your age?

Question Title

* 16. How profitable has it been up to now to own a business or work for yourself?

Question Title

* 17. What were your gross annual sales last year?

Question Title

* 18. If you have any additional comments, leave them here.