Preliminary Survey Results

Brief Survey Statistics

• SME’s Complete Survey – 550• SME’s partially complete – 400• USA – 33% of businesses• UK - 26%• Canada – 15%• Australia – 13%• Belgium – 4%• Ireland – 2%

OPENING QUESTIONS

What industry do you operate within?

What is your annual revenue?

What level of impact is the current economic climate having on your business?

What country do you predominately trade in?

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

My levels of inventory have increased

R&D/Product Development/Exploration plans have been deferred

There is greater uncertainty in my supply chain

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON MARKETING AND SALES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

My marketing expenditure has been reduced

There is greater pressure on prices

It is harder to make a sale (customers driving a better deal, aggressive competitors etc)

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

My expenditure on IT will be deferred

I am looking for increased internal efficiencies

I am more prepared to take risks so I can keep the business alive when things are tough

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

I will defer recruitment that was planned

Salary increases will be lower than planned

My team is concerned about the viability of the business

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON FINANCE AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

Finance is getting harder to obtain

My customers are taking longer to pay

My forecast profits will fall

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON BUSINESS DEBT AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

Is your business substantially funded by debt?

Are you concerned about your ability to service this debt?

Have you used personal assets to provide security for this debt?

If your debt financing was withdrawn would you have an alternative way of financing the business and continuing trading?