- April 24, 2024
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According to a study by the chamber of commerce, 55% of Flagler companies employ exactly two full-time workers.
Fulfilling one of its strategic goals for 2011, the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates released findings from the county’s first business census Sept. 26, a six-month project measuring the number and kind of businesses in Flagler.
According to the data, about 27% of all businesses surveyed plan to add employees within the next six months.
Analyzing figures compiled from the Center for Business Excellence, county records and other sources, the census incorporated phone/electronic surveys, as well as written questionnaires, to obtain information from local business owners.
Requests were sent to 8,500 owners. A total of 1,510, or 18%, responded, a figure chamber Chairwoman Lea Stokes said was surprisingly strong.
“Normally, if you get 10% response (on a survey) you should be thrilled,” she said.
Although Stokes said that the chamber hasn’t yet analyzed its findings, she believes that the data could be useful to anyone involved in the business community, locally or otherwise. The data could inform economic development discussions, as well as identify Flagler’s target industries. The data could be useful to companies planning to relocate.
“We’ve got it,” she said. “Now we need to use it.”
Findings showed that 43% of all surveyed business have been in operation for less than five years; 38% were shown as home-based.
Fifty-four percent of companies fell into the “other services” category (administrative support, cleaning/repair, lawn care, etc.). The second- and third-largest categories were real estate (8%) and construction (7%), followed by healthcare/social assistance (5%), retail (two categories totaling 10%) and professional/scientific/technical services (3%).
Thirty-seven percent of full-time salaries were shown as less than $24,000; 19% pay more than $54,000; 18% pay between $24,001 and $34,000; and 14% pay between $34,001 and $44,000.
But most interesting to Stokes were the findings related to the future.
A total of about 26% of all businesses surveyed said they plan to expand or invest; 27% said they will add staff in the next six months.
“I found that very encouraging,” she said, citing that nearly 85% of businesses registered with the chamber currently employ fewer than five workers. “If you can get just 10% or 20% of those businesses to hire one person, that’s 80 to 100 people working. That’s a midrange company.”
Most of the companies surveyed expect to remain in business the next six months.
“In a community that is so fraught with unemployment, that was a little more positive,” Stokes said.
Of the 26% that plan to expand, 11% plan to do so by purchasing equipment, 7.8% plan to increase materials, and 7.2% plan to increase facilities.
Of the 27% that plan to hire staff, 12% intend to hire part-time workers and 11% intend to hire full-time.
“Conducting surveys like this each year will help us gauge progress in Flagler County and give us more accurate readings of the health of the local business community,” said Doug Baxter, chamber president. “Over time, this data will prove useful in supporting existing businesses and aiding efforts to bring new companies to Flagler County.”
For more, call 437-0106.
