Business Barometer, May 2010

The following comments were taken directly from the survey:

• We are in a service - hospitality business with challenges on four fronts. 1. Reduced tourism - conventions from international markets 2. Lingering Recession effects has reduced domestic demand. 3.Government ( all levels ) far too much regulatory interference on many fronts. 4.Government bodies that interfere but are totally unaccountable and care only about their personal paychecks and egos.
• The continued sluggishness, coupled with the strong C$ has made it difficult for us to compete with struggling US companies as they drastically reduce pricing in order to remain open. There are several new products in our industry and they are all trying to procure market share, primarily through lower price points. Our current labour force was hired in 2007 and earlier, and we find our labour costs are much higher than competitors who have turned over their staff.
• My biggest issue is the increasing costs in remaining compliant with government programs and especially revenue collection. The incompetent practices and demands of Ontario and Federal taxation regimes is becoming a significant burden. The amount of time and expenses I have are extraordinary because of the inefficient activities of CRA and other agencies.
• All in all I'd say business is very good. The HST has me worried, the gov't says we will save money, I don't see how, when many things that had no PST will now, i.e. hydro, rent, insurance, etc.
• We service manufacturing and the high Canadian dollar and poor market conditions has cuased a massive drop in new machinery installs. The recovery may be in those industries that got bailed out and where stimulus spending had an impact, but on the core manufacturing side we see little or no recovery happening. When the stimulus effect washes out, there will be more reality in the economic numbers and based on what I see that news won't be good for a long while to come.
• none
• and we told of tax increases.....perhaps the tax man should walk 2 months in the shoes of a small business...just like the tv show, and see which tax he would like to delay so he could do paycheques and see if the gov't allows him to do this or get a bail out loan. add up the number of small business closures with no bail out money compared to a large car mfg.
• The government doesn't really support manufacturing. I don't want subsidies but there needs to be some commitment or we will be a nation of consumers, not producers. How will that model work?
• HST is a serious problem for our business.......for every $5k remitted in previous years I now will have to remit $12.5 K. With no reduction in costs from any of our suppliers the end user ( our customer ) is going to pay more.......unbelievable ........
• We are ahead in reservations over last year from the american and overseas. We had a hard time raising working capital this year. Unless we are bought or sold this will be our last year as we will be forced to shut dawn. With restricted access to our property Parks Canada is killing us. We were down 12% over last year as people refuse to pay to come into our National Park. What a joke. Oh well it will be niece to work for somebody else for a change.
• Possative for the comming year with modest increases in sales and profit
• We could expand [sales increase by 20-30%] if we had 1 more technical sales person, however we have not found a suitable person to fill this position. We are therefore going to promote from within and hire to fill the vacancy within the next few months.
• just hope we can get through the implementation of HST. We will have to remit huge amounts which will cost us up front when recievables are past 90 days.
• Like alot of companies we are just hoping things pick up in the oil fields of Alberta.
• none
• I know that the HST is suppose to help businesses by reducing the paper work involved (filing one piece of paper), limiting the chances of making mistakes concerning the RST, along with it now being and in and out tax which is fine BUT in my humble opinion, the combined taxes SHOULD BE reduced from 13% to 10%. But I feel that the current Liberal Provincial Government WILL NOT reduce the tax because they have to make up for all their losses/mistakes (e.g. E Health Scandal). Also, if the media is right on the issue of having to pay the current RST employees a severance package, he also has to come up with money for that. It is the every day guy (the ones that DO NOT own a business) that will take the biggest hit with this HST. SO, once again, I say lower the tax from 13% to 10%.
• We own a bowling centre so this is our slow time of year
• It seems to be getting slower
• Our Company is presently using the EI workshare program and our staff is working about half time. We have been on this program for about 1 year. Looking forward, we see the recovery being very slow and do not expect the coming year to be a great deal better than the last.
• No business growth for some time in this market. Government needs to develop incentive programs and promote what we have to offer in this market. This province has two cities in the top 10 for best cities in Canada to live (out of the 25). Why are we not promoting this and encouraging Companies and people to come here? Why is our infrastructure continuing to decay? Why have we grown to one of the highest marginal tax provinces in the country? Things to think about
• The questions are too vague
• HST rise is going to stop the buying from people and everthing is going to cost more .The goverment is way wrong by raising the tax , They will get lest because people are not going to buy .They will go underground which is a big buissines now under the table.
• economy seems not as we expected! It is still very slow and we got a lots of the competitions in everydays! No idea when will it be getting changed!
• Being in the property management business we are in a continuous to battle with MPAC as property values in this depressed market continue to go up which in turn causes property taxes to increase
• the worse the economy gets the better we are www.cleanburn.com
• We've been busy over the past year preparing engineering designs for various infrastructure projects, but as those are now into construction with completion by next March, we see our business will be slowing down quite a bit.
• I my particular field I am finding that due to factory closings lack of jobs, etc. everyone sudden becomes a contractor and work for cash with no insurance coverages, WSIB, overhead etc. I am struggling to compete with all the underground work force that pay nothing into the system. Nobody regulates them. because of increasing costs in materials and everything else I am having trouble any suggestions
• We've increased our stock at this time to avoid the tax. And hope the rent increases are managable!
• I have an accounting practice and I am finding that my business has experienced amazing growth in the past year - I have basically doubled revenues, increased staff, etc.
• Cautious optimism, that we have bottomed out and the economy will slowly get back to previous levels. I hope we do not experience the double dip recession that some economists are predicting. The U.S. may never recover fully from the crushing debt they have imposed on themselves. This does not bode well for the Canadian Economy
• Things are turning around slowly following the recession. Our drivers' hours are lower than usual but we have not laid off any employees. We are keeping a close watch eye on AR since record number of 2008-2009 bankruptcies.
• Cost of promoting and advertising our product is a huge obstacle.
• Generally speaking it is the shortage of cash/credit avail. that limts me to the amount of inventory I can get to keep up with the new trends...With last years economy causing sales to slump my accts payable got quite large and now it is catch up time as well as keeping up with the present demands...I have contributed a lot of my personal money and not taken any money out of the business as to be able to continue!!
• One of the streams in our business is profitable and the other is having cash flow issues. I think it is very important to win initiatives like transparency from the credit card companies to keep our fees down. This is just another way to save % points on the bottom line.
• In our 41 years of doing business, I have never seen the retail market doing as poorly as it is now. When I confer with others in both the US and Canada, I find that this is their experience as well. I am fortunate that we have many years behind us, or I do not think we could have survived.
• We have diversified our business over the years and are now struggling in our initial strength - transportation of grain products. The amount of farmers entering the transportation sector is alarming which also affects the rate for hauling.
• Our business is a recent start-up, and we are trying to reach critical mass for sustainability.
• As a metal fabricator, the industry is sufferring a serious shortage of skilled workers. Add to that, business practices by many in the industry is ' CUT-THROAT,' Mainly from the top down. Many a small operator would rather walk away from fighting for what is legitimately theirs because litigation does not work . Mediation does not work as it should. Mediation, as a recourse is there for one thing and one thing only.....and that is.....to force/encourage settlement[ usually at a huge loss to the plaintiff]. As one mediator put it bluntly..." to keep you from cluttering up the courts !" My business outlook for the future is still a positive one. However, it could be much better if Moral integrity were included in everyones' mission statement...and abide by it.
• The HST will increase the cost of all our services by 7% as our services were PST exempt before. We have no option but to add this tax and pass on the cost to our clients. This will likely have a negative effect on business.
• The drastic decline in foothills natural gas completions is killing us.
• Business has been very stable for a number of years. Buildings and property require renovation and major expense repairs. A loyal customer base and good reputation will keep us going while work is done, though cash-flow will be tight, careful spending will see us through.
• Some Questions are not really applicable to our farm business.
• Frustration with government bureacracy on all levels. Tired of all levels wasting our tax dollars
• I hope that with better direct advertizing business will improve . This means more phone calls , Email I think does not work as it does not give a personal voice for the service that can be provided or answering the questions the custormer may ask
• the markets feel a little slugish/ recovery is going to be slow in Central Alberta.
• The government needs to do a cost analysis for small business and understand what the increase in minimum wage will do to us. Many of us struggle to survive now - this will put a lot of us under.
• grain farming is our business. prices are deteriorating and demand is soft--not a good combination.
• shortage of work do to econemy and predatory pricing by competition.
• the manufacturing sector is dead slow. when thew hst starts...it will cause business to weaken.
• Business is been slow and I think is about the location because it's not in a comercial area. So, I'm thinking about to move to somewhere else or close the business down. the business chequing account is been on overdraft for about a year. The lease I've sigend out last up to May 1st 2011. I do not know what can I do.
• I feel the Hst in BC will make the consumer more cautious about where they spend their disposable income. More and more tax burden is being pushed on to the small business population of Canada. Property Taxes are becoming almost as expensive as the rents. There needs to be a freeze on spending by governments with 0% increases to small business.
• I AM SOME WHAT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE NEXT 6 MONTHS
• Need to get the credit card processing charges down, also need to have the credit card transaction type(qualified or non-qualified) on the receipt for the disc calculation, this would make it easier for book keeping.
• The taxes imposed on our business is killing us. Consumer confidence has evaporated. The government pulls programs out from under us with no notice. Thederal rebates were gone on April fools day with no notice. At least a 30 day notice would have given some people sitting on the fence the chance to move a little quicker. Unfortunately the fence has come crashing down. Why doesn't the government profile small business and use the same strategy to improving their business. we keep feeding a monster and it is always hungry. Put money back in to the pockets of consumers and they will spend it instead of wasting it, like this government does so incredibly well.
• The strong Canadian dollar and the cancellation of the Federal Insulation grant have slowed sales for both our companies
• Charters last winter have been below expectations but our scheduled services have shown an increase. We expct this summer to be average (above last summer)
• We are a company that provides IT consultants to the Federal Government. The budgets for the Departments have not yet been issued and the Departments generally expect a reduction in there budgets as well as fewer descretionary dollars for this fiscal year. Further, the Feds have not announced any new programs whatsoever and thus there is no large projects to keep the large IT corporations busy so they are competing at all levels with the smaller companies on per diem business. Fundementally, the Government business's demand for consultants is expected to decline even more causing perdiem rates to fall even further as supply increases and opportunities (demand) harder to find for consulting resources.
• We are finding the burden of increased wages (min wage) a serious problem - We are slightly up in our sales as of March but our overall expenses are increasing ! Our industry is a difficult one - undergoing significant changes - many of our type of stores have closed. We serve a limited market. Provincial rules regarding Employment Standards are another burden. We are small businesses and the administrative load is getting so heavy. The bureaucrats listening to the Union activists have no idea or concern about the burden they place upon us. Our Provincial Gov't is making it very difficult to survive. Thank you for advocating on our behalf for what you are doing to help us.
• We need positions in our town for unskilled labour. Something needs to be done to make Ontario competitive in manufacturing again. We've allowed all our jobs to migrate to China, India, and Mexico, leaving our population impoverished and our businesses struggling for survival. Thanks labour unions for pricing us right out of the job market!!
• The economy has tough over the last few years but we have fared better than our neighbours to the south. We have changed our inventory mix to match demand (more bargain priced product) and it has worked well for us. Lots of challenges on the horizon though (ebooks/online sellers/music downloading/ etc)
• Business seems a little more tentative this year. Customers don't seem to want to spend any extra money right now. Maybe higher interest rates or the Hst is holding them back?
• Keep up the good work guys, get government regulation out of our lives. Thanks Rex
• this has been the worst1 1 1/2 years ever . {farming]
• I answered understanding intent. I do not hire employees. I hire owner/operaters, with $60,000 worth of equipment. Lost one full-time, will have to replace. When we are busy, no forecast here, day to day, hour to hour, courier trucking co., I call whoever is available. Usually have 4-5 trucks in Calgary, currently, expanding in Edmonton.
• Good
• I am probably not a good person to give an opinion on this topic as I am not trying to grow my business - I am 68 years old and looking to slow down not speed up.
• We are a tourist oriented business and with the increase in HST, and NO ferry going to the US are business reservations have currently been taken down to NIL from the states! I do hope that Nova Scotia government wakes up before it is to late and makes the appropriate changes. Just a regular ferry service and a drop in HST would help considerably I am sure. Thank you
• Increase early in the calendar year then plateaued at that level - business is recruiting staff for client companies, orders reflect clients that are hiring. As many management and professional hiring mandates as administrative.
• The biggest fear in our industry is the incoming HST that we know will cause alot of our work to go underground.
• Our industry (p&c insurance) is in a normal cycle of a hard market during which times prices are increasing (good for us as we are on commission) but difficult to place coverage as the markets (insurers) do not want business (because they are losing money, this wont' change until the prices raise high enough so they can make money again). We have an advantage in the number of markets we have that allows us to grow significantly during this time. Our biggest problem is managing staff and time constraints. Even with a larger staff (we added two new staff and considering one more) we cannot keep up with the volume of calls. Time and management are our two biggest problems to date.
• Falling farm gate prices the biggest issue in our business.
• I own a tanning business in a small town. With so much bad press about sun tanning and not being allowed to tell customers the benefits it makes it hard to have a voice. My hope is that the government will put regulations on tanning business's so that we can weed out the irresponsible tanning salon owners and move forward from all this bad press.
• We are a subsiduary of a foreign compay and import most of our product from Europe in Euros. The softening of the Euro has helped our business.
• the HST is making people think about doing work as the don't want to pay more tax on the labour
• The external environment (economic and societal) have been our biggest issues.
• Specific Skilled Labour shortage for CNC programming and operating, fixture and gauge designer.
• Canadian dollar causing us a lot of problems
• In general, very optimistic considering sales grew a little bit during the downturn in the economy.
• I would have some concerns because of the current global problems which always seem to have a trickle down effect on our business.
• An odd recession we are in. Still lots of work to do.
• The overall confidence in the economy, rising fuel and travel costs, US-Can border implications, position of the Canadian $ and the lack of disposable income have depressed sales in the areas of tourism and travel...art and framing sectors.
• I am really down about having to raise my consulting fees another 7% to accomodate the HST in BC. I feel like I have to absorb it but can't really afford to. Too bad the government feels it necessary to charge taxes on personal counseling services as well as other essential services. Thanks for all the great work you are doing.
• I'm a public accountant. My clients are sinking fast. Please encourage Governmental Authorities to continue the economic supports into the Kootenays. We are NOT enjoying the big City recovery. We need funds to faciliate: logging, wood processing, mining, AND The BC Government is continuing to move management of all BC services out of small cities (read Nelson) into Kelowna and Cranbrook. Save a dollar by 'consolidating services'. Lose 10 fold through the loss of spending in these small cities.
• Bussiness outlook is positive for the next 12mths at least.
• Minimum wage increases have forced me to cut dishwashers completely. It's ridiculous to pay a teenager with no work ethic 1 or 2 dollars less than mature women with 30 years experience! So the teens that they are trying to get higher wages for are being cut in my establishment.
• tHIS IS A FARM BUSINESS This is a farm business whose major enterprise has been raising pigs for Pork production. Prices have been depressed for so long that we've been forced to close down this enterprise under the Hog Farm Transition Program.(HFTP). I will continue to farm at a much reduced level for a while and then retire.Five of my employees will have lost their jobs by this fall.
• We have our business Canmore, Alberta and the town is suffering from lack of tourism, many locals have left to find work, business vacancy rates are high. Hopefully we can survive this.
• we are closing we have no work and no money left to keep going
• After a strong fiscal 2009, we have had a very weak first half of fiscal 2010. This has reduced our cash reserves and will likely put us into our credit line for the first time in more than three years. Our sales pipeline is not encouraging at this point. Part of the problem is the contraction of residential development in Ontario.
• HST and increasing energy costs will greatly negatively impact my business. Tired of our two class society: political class; those supporting political class
• We are a small, currently, 2 person operation , supplying the commercial/ industrial construction companies. Taxes and other deductions are a big part of our capitol outlay. Cpp, EI, Fed/Prov. taxes, wcb. It's crazy.
• Optimistic things will eventually turn around. Or, if not, may take early retirement and seek new career in politics.
• Does not look good at all. This is the slowest in the history of the company 30 years+
• I see a slowdown in general. When the federal tax rebate went off, buisiness stopped. People just stopped spending on renovations. There will be a slow period until consumer confidence returns.
• Busy should be at record levels going into the last quarter of 2010 and throughout 2011.
• Most of my Sales are out of country and in US$. Currency rate changes really hurt Canadian sales are better, but US and Europe have not recovered
• Although my customer base is increasing my costs are also increasing The minimum wage increase has an adverse effect as my full time staff will expect an increase and my part time staff is paid at minimum. My largest customers will not accept rate increases at this time. This has forced me to become more creative in products that I sell and handle
• The biggest issue in my business is the insurance industries control of pricing and direction of work.
• Banks will still need to loosen credit restrictions to help small business going forward is a concern.
• our biggest hurdle in the hvac industry is lack of skilled, trained oil & gas technicians, and the fact that there is no formal, government apprenticeship program for this trade. there are plumbing, electrical, sheet metal worker, etc apprenticeships through the Ministry of Training & Colleges; however, NONE for Gas or Oil Technician - the most regulated trade in the province???? this baffles us. the employer is supposed to bear the sole responsibility. THIS MUST CHANGE.
• I think increasing the minimum wage was insane. All taxes are getting out of hand that's why prices will go up.
• The ethics of our client including the goverment has decided that paying suppliers invoices in a timely manner or as agreed to is becoming a major problem. Companies are pushing payments as far as they can and goverment employees who control payments are afraid to do their job. It appears that the bigger an organization is the slower they pay. In the past few months I have felt that the extra controls placed on companies by banks, the increase in the starting minimum wage, the addition of a paid by company provinical holiday and the lack of accountability shown by WSIB and other employer watchdogs are making the job of independent business people who play by the rules unrewarding. I am very disappointed in the business environment in Ontario and Canada.
• the largest concern we have is the credit card fees
• The economy seems to be picking up again in Alberta, 2010 should be a good year.
• Business growth is steady and strong. The competition we deal with both domestically and internationally comes from public and nonprofit institutions. I am always amazed by public policy which supports public and nonprofit business activities through appropriations, grants and contributions to build capacity, when there is clearly a capacity and capability to deliver quality services on a competitive basis in the private sector. The strategy is unsustainable and puts at risk the innovations of small and medium sized businesses.
• taxes taxes taxes - less tax please!
• traditional banks are not interested in lending money to small business. they used different excuses each year
• I am planning an auction and because of the divorce situation in Canada and the economy and the area I am in which is severly depressed agriculture and oil and gas and rural and aging This area has just received about 6 inches of moisture which will help in 2 years time we are on a very slippery slope to the bottom. my business is in the final stages of closure.
• The increase in Minimum wage has affected our bottom line and caused increased prices in our products.
• Our market has seemed to have peaked at this time,I anticipate a very marginal growth for this year. I think credit worries for consumers are hampering our growth. I am not sure that this is a bad idea
• We believe HST will affect our non government business. It will be interesting to see if prices drop 8% before the implementation of the HST
• HST affecting employee moral/efficiency.
• The economic outlook for our business is consilidation and manufacturing is pulling out. The outlook of our business sector is shrinking
• At this 5th month, business shows an improvement over last year. However, there are other aspects in our community..we are a flower and gift shop...Sobeys has opened here and has a fairly extensive flower and plant sales area. Also, another flower shop opened here a year ago. Our sales are up over last year, however, these two new retail outlets undoubtedly are affecting our ability to achieve even better sales. We will continue to do what we can to keep our existing customer base and attract the new and young group of buyers.
• this recession is NOT over!!!!
• I fear the HST will further stall the retail buying sector; which will effect all fulfillments through the channels of distribution. Although we are currently enjoying a slight increase YTD, we are not optimistic in the latter part of this year.
• Generally good outlook, but with caution. We worry about the USA market. Too much government.
• Since December of 2009 to now is the worst we have seen in our business in the past 9 years, and with the HST coming fast, it is really scary!!
• Expect sales to level off// We would be content to match last year.It always amazes us when there is is growth year after year .
• We are in the agriculture related bussiness, we have enjoyed some good years, but are concerned as always with weather and commodity prices. On top of that concern, the world's financial markets continue to be troubled. Plus wild swings in the Canadian dollar are causing problems in our pricing.
• hope bussines will pick up, otherwise am selling my bussines this year.
• The souvenir/tourism industry appears to be having a very slow start this year and every year sales seem to go down and that is the majority of our business.
• Good
• I feel the economy is not on the uphill swing as media is stating. If anything, new business's are going to be in trouble in the next 6 months as people are just not spending. I good measurement forcast of the summer and fall will be the May long weekend.
• HST incoming is going to KILL our small business. 5% GST was bad enough but if under $30,000 got refunds. Adding this tax means we cannot increase our prices with a 13% tax! This will kill my small business over the next 6 months. I believe all health care should be exempt from this tax, including (and especially) Registered Massage Therapy and any other health care funded by private insurance companies as part of their health care packages for employees!!!
• I have deep concerns to the Manufacturing sector with the new HST & the government's ridiculous demand to be paid tax on progress invoices BEFORE we get paid and the 10%/month late fee payment after 1 day late.We should NOT have to pay any taxes UNTIL we get paid. This ruling will cause many firms to go belly up and if not use up all cash reserves and uses of lines of credit to pay tax versus to fund contracts= SERIOUS MATTER.
• Government spending is driving out investment and private production. Rising taxes in the future is depressing investment. Regulation expansion is adding cost and preventing productive activity.
• Now that the economy in Alberta seems to be weakening a bit, people are more content to stay in SK. Housing prices are starting to climb up to ridiculous levels, which makes it harder for people to buy their first home, and scarey to try to move up in the market as well.
• the financial banks continue to hinder the recover in the automotive industry with restrictive loans to consumers and dealerships. They have received significant federal financial support to loosen funding for consumer loans but continue to put this money into reserve instead of assisting the automotive dealers..
• We need less interference from government and lower taxes , we must reform Our social welfare system and make it less attractive for people to be on welfare Otherwise we will not have any workers at all not even new immigrant who traditionally Come here for a better life and would work to achieve it, but find our welfare system so generous They abandon such thoughts and go on welfare in large numbers.
• Our business is for sale. Squamish market is very stressed. Business's are closing. Local golf course just closed. Future in squamish is bleek. We will move as soon as business sells. We are accepting offers rather than an asking price.
• this is the most uncertain time that we have had in business in more than 10 yrs
• Expecting improvement overall by year end
• the goverment is going to put buisiness out of buisiness with the neew tax coming and driving everything up 8 % or more
• We are struggling right now due to a slow period eating up capital and now that business is picking up we are unable to secure the capital required to complete the work.
• I think we will see another down turn with the advent of of HST and the close down of government financing programs
• Interest rates are a big concern. Higher rates may cause problems if they go up to fast.
• Our wonderful New HST is going to cripple a small Companies ability to grow and hire new staff. As an example we spend $1000.00 a month on Fuel, as of July 1 I can look forward to an additional 8% plus whatever the Oil Co.'s want to add on. I guess I will just pass it along to my Customers [Prospects], I 'am sure they won't mind and won't be looking for ways to cut back. I am also certain that I am the only Co. in this mess!
• We've seen steady growth in the past 3 years. Investment and training in distribution has doubled our sale's. We may actually be in a situation of not being able to fulfill the demand. I fully expect a 20 to 30% increase this year. This on top of the 17% increase we had last year.
• I suspect the markets are going to crash...and so will business. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop. All those loans have to be paid back and because Canada is the tail on the Dog...what happens to the global economy, particularly the US, so happens to Canada.
• keep on trucking and always give it your best shot.....two good cliches for this economy!
• forsee the oil 'spill' in the Gulf of Mexico harming our sales.
• None
• Our sense is that most retail businesses in our rural community are experiencing an unexpected downturn in sales. Coupled with rising costs (inventory, utilities, HST), we are feeling the sting for the first time in our 6 years of being small business owners.
• This survey felt too much like it was leading to a sales pitch for a lender. I deliberately left out details I am not comfortable sharing and I am still feeling like I was being oiled up there. Sorry, I just thought you ought to know what it felt like.. E
• Having a business is becoming more and more disheartning. Seems everyone wants to drain from it. Espically, goverment intervention.
• We are planning for the turnaround and took an aggressive approach a year ago, instead of a defensive approach. The wisdom of these moves will be proved in the next six months. If we are successful, which I anticipate, we will look like psychics; if we are not successful, many will be unemployed.
• this is new start up business and new to this city so that is the difficult part getting the word out and letting people know about it.
• product costs are up in one part of my businesses by 50%. with the HST coming feel things will slow down in another part of my business as people hold onto their money, not wanting to spend more which they would have to do with the introduction of the HST
• we have decent financials so getting the capitol has not been an issue. I do prefer though to spread out some of the financing with for example john deere or finning just so it doesnt give the bank too much control of my business
• We expect to maintain current sales, however, I feel that the big box stores are gaining because they have access to most companies and get large rebates not available to small retailers. The quotas are too large for small retailers to take advantage of rebates, even when ordering as part of a buying group.
• Increases will be moderate based on confidences within the economy but a general improvement overall , sometimes slower than hoped due to consumer concerns.
• High Canadian dollar is very negative to our business.
• Our business is up due to demand, because gas and hydro costs are up and are continuing to climb up.
• could be shacky year ahead.
• Overall business in the past year is up, higher consumer confidence and customer repetition
• my business is suffering hugely because the Canadian government is not willing to address copyright infringement as it relates to movie piracy. Canada has a shamefull history of not protecting our film or music industries from poaching.
• we are only 11 months in so our outlook is to increase sales and our brand/name our product is delivered to our commercial accounts so fuel costs are a concern, especially with the usual increase in gas prices during the summer months.
• HST represents a 7% across the board increase to us because we are a service company whose sales were almost entirely free of PST.
• this is a retail food supplement business.Our biggest threat and fear is Health Canada wanting to take over the business with unwarrented restrictions that suppliers cant afford to apply. Many small businesses will be out of business.
• I believe the interior of BC is going to move forward durning the next few years
• I'm getting sick and tired with the Mcguinty government's negative actions towards small business, A senior tax auditor has stated their orders are to leave the large companies alone or they will close down, To go after the small companies because they are still in business and still have some money. Is there any hope for us, what are you doing about this?.
• I am a sole practitioner - lawyer and have been practising for 43 years. 98% of my work is for 2 large developers and they have become more active in the last 5 months than since mid 2008. I have no desire to expand as it takes me too long and too much effort to train another lawyer. I could probably hire another assistant but there are space constraints to that and I have no desire to move in order to take on additional space.
• There is a great deal of uncertainty in the economy at the moment. Yhis leads to not wanting to make any big investments.
• This year looks like an increase of sales, however with minimun wage increasing to $10.00/hour within the next 16 months, profits will not as this will add 9% increase in wage cost if I stay with the the same number of hours used.
• Have been in business for one year & have shown improvement most months.
• The banks are reluctant to lend money to the business and I mostly use a personal secured line of credit to lend money to the company--shareholder loan
• NONE
• The govt has been asessing everyone meals and gas expenses and this has become a critical problem, too costly in time to maintain.
• we need more affordable operating loans we need insurance for jobs employees foul up
• With the implementation of HST Tax this year, our business stands to loose. We do not need or want this additional tax. It may result in less business as the consumer will not want to pay more for the services and go without rather than pay more. We do not benefit at all in this move but will no doubt suffer and our clients have had enough!
• Our goal this year is to increase our networking which will translate into growth in sales. Q1&Q2 are looking very strong.
• Farming business - income currently affected by low commodity prices which are in part affected by the high loonie and also excess supply of commodities around the world.
• I have continually asked to have Hydro One's "debt retirement program reviewed. To date, I have received Zero responce. Recently had your rep. requesting renewal of our memership. I have not renewed, nor will I, when all I get is no reply to my requests.
• We are currently renegotiating our credit. We need more credit in order to take advantage of our supplier's terms. The business is otherwise running smoothly. The bank keeps jacking up our rates and nickel and diming us on fees every time we expand. It is very annoying. We are contemplaing changing institutions.
• As long as the capital costs don't increase any more ;it will be as good year.
• service sector, minimal capital requirements, line to credit to finance cashflow, NAFTA professional, border issues affect efficent travel
• coruption and pay to play rules are killing honest businesses. we need white collar crime to be reduced if there is ever going to be enough money for things to work out because the lawyers, bankers, and multi national corperations are taking all the money and there is nothing left for honest business.
• Business is hampered by the inability of our suppliers - and therefore ourselves - to promptly respond to a request. Time constraints and inefficient systems are a problem. Also limiting is the general lack of technology skills among middle-aged managers across the industry.
• My business has been financed via a home equity line of credit and I have used more than I every thought I would - in fact I would not have gone into business if I had thought I would have needed so much. Typically for last couple of years I only use it when cash flow is short so tried to get an overdraft type addtion to our business chequing account for $5000 so that I wouldn't need to use the personal credit line at all. RBC refused - we were not pleased, we have been their customer personally for 33 years.
• I know it looks like a mistake when I selected Wage Reduction and Salary Increases of 5%. By that I meant that I am going to earn lower profits this/next year and still pay higher wages.
• Good hot summer weather will increase my business sales for this quarter.