september141998（ september141998）.docVIP

NGA State Policy Academy on Entrepreneurship November 15 – 18, 2000 SLIDES OF Los Angeles Times - USC Marshall School 1998 Southern California Business Climate Survey William B. Gartner Simonsen Chair in Entrepreneurship Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Bridge Hall One Marshall School of Business University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0801 Phone: 213-740-0648 Fax: 213-740-2976 E-mail: wgartner@marshall.usc.edu Los Angeles Times – USC Marshall School 1998 Southern California Business Climate Survey Summary of the Results The purpose of the study was to reflect the views and concerns of small business establishments operating in six Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura. The primary goal of this research was to develop a database of information on Southern California small businesses that could be used for the creation of a series of articles in the Los Angeles Times. A series of articles on small business issues was published in the Los Angeles Times on September 23 and 30, and October 7 and 14. If you would like copies of these articles, please send an email to: wgartner@marshall.usc.edu Southern California small businesses are optimistic about the future. Over 57% of the owners surveyed estimate that their businesses will have increases in sales during the next 12 months. The major problems facing Southern California businesses were primarily focused on taxes, regulation, and the availability of resources (skilled labor and capital). Small business owners indicate that all levels of government are not responsive to their needs. From the comments received, one notes that this is an attitude on the part of small business owners of being helpless and angry that the federal, state, county and city governments fail to respond in solving the major problems confronting them. Our findings suggest that businesses in all six countie