Growing their businesses and staying profitable are the biggest challenges for those who responded to the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's 2013 Member Services Survey, with nearly 60 percent citing these as the challenges that have the most impact on their businesses.
Exposure was second (18 percent) followed by competition (13 percent). Local regulations, employment issues and taxes received only single-digit mentions by the respondents, about 49.8 percent of whom have nine employees or less. About 24 percent of respondents have 100 or more employees, and nearly 66 percent of them are based in Carlsbad.
Of those businesses that responded, 58 percent said they offer professional services, 11 percent were nonprofit organizations, 10 percent were retail shops, 10 percent were manufacturers and 7 percent were in the hospitality and tourism industry.
They ranked member services (business education, promotion and networking) as the most important service offered by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, followed by economic development (recruiting, retaining and promoting local businesses), community development and advocating for public policy.
Asked to name the three services offered by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce that they find most beneficial, 67 percent said the Carlsbad Business Journal, followed by workshops and educational services at 61 percent and the Chamber website, www.carlsbad.org, with 36 percent respondents.
Among our events, the most popular were the State of the City Address (37 percent), the Business is Green Expo (36 percent) and the Annual Awards Dinner (33 percent).
Nearly 99 percent of those who responded said they're satisfied with the Chamber staff and 97 percent said they are likely to recommend the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce to another business.
“This survey is a good indicator of the preoccupations of small-business owners, who comprise a majority of our membership,” said Ted Owen, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. “I believe that the reason we get such high marks is because we are aware of the needs of small business, and many of our programs are targeted to help these business owners succeed.”
Exposure was second (18 percent) followed by competition (13 percent). Local regulations, employment issues and taxes received only single-digit mentions by the respondents, about 49.8 percent of whom have nine employees or less. About 24 percent of respondents have 100 or more employees, and nearly 66 percent of them are based in Carlsbad.
Of those businesses that responded, 58 percent said they offer professional services, 11 percent were nonprofit organizations, 10 percent were retail shops, 10 percent were manufacturers and 7 percent were in the hospitality and tourism industry.
They ranked member services (business education, promotion and networking) as the most important service offered by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, followed by economic development (recruiting, retaining and promoting local businesses), community development and advocating for public policy.
Asked to name the three services offered by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce that they find most beneficial, 67 percent said the Carlsbad Business Journal, followed by workshops and educational services at 61 percent and the Chamber website, www.carlsbad.org, with 36 percent respondents.
Among our events, the most popular were the State of the City Address (37 percent), the Business is Green Expo (36 percent) and the Annual Awards Dinner (33 percent).
Nearly 99 percent of those who responded said they're satisfied with the Chamber staff and 97 percent said they are likely to recommend the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce to another business.
“This survey is a good indicator of the preoccupations of small-business owners, who comprise a majority of our membership,” said Ted Owen, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. “I believe that the reason we get such high marks is because we are aware of the needs of small business, and many of our programs are targeted to help these business owners succeed.”