Key Survey Results

Community Safety:

Since BC decriminalized the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs in January of 2023, those surveyed were asked the impact on street disorder near their business – 77% say street disorder has increased.

• 86% say it has increased drug/mental health related activity,
• 78% say increased homelessness or encampments,
• 63% say increased graffiti,
• 58% say increased violence and aggression,
• 56% say theft/shoplifting, and
• 53% report broken windows or doors.

The impact of the above:

• 82% say it has increased fear, anxiety and/or stress,
• 67% report an increase in expenses associated with crime/vandalism, and
• 64% report a loss of customer/street traffic.

The Cost of Doing Business:

97% report the cost of doing business has increased in the past five years:

• 53% suggest by more than 20% and
• 44% by between 10 and 20%.

While gross revenues have increased (37%) or stayed the same (31%) – profit margins have decreased for 60%.

The top six reasons for increased costs include: Payroll and Benefits; Insurance; Cost of Goods Sold; Lease or Commercial Mortgage; Property Tax and 5-day Mandatory Sick Leave.

If conditions stay as they are, 39% of businesses don’t believe they can remain viable/continue operating successfully within 2 years – and the total increases to 52% over a four-year period.

60% say they would support a review of the five-day mandatory sick day policy while 26% are unsure (because they would require more information?)

• If the review shifted the cost of the policy away from small business, 48% would prefer a rebate, 29% a subsidy and 26% a tax credit.

Government Support

59% suggest they are not aware of the Securing Small Business Rebate Program and of the 21% who applied for a reparative rebate, 56% were approved – and of the 11% who applied for a preventative rebate, 40% were approved.

• In the past two years, 50% of those surveyed have had a window or door smashed – 11% between 5-10 times – and 63% have been the victims of graffiti, with 24 % reporting between 5-10 times.
• In the past two years, 72% have installed video surveillance, 54% have installed alarms or sensors.
• Those who did not apply for the rebate program, 58% suggest they did not know about the program.

Currently, Small Business is housed in the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. Given the myriad of challenges facing small businesses, 63% say they would support the creation of a dedicated ministry for small business (while 25% aren’t sure).

 

500+ Business owners/operators in 18 municipalities representing 27 business districts responded to the survey, between June 6 and 28, including:

• Burnaby
• Campbell River
• Duncan
• Kamloops (Downtown, North Shore)
• Kelowna
• Langley
• Maple Ridge
• New Westminster
• North Vancouver
• Prince George
• Sechelt
• Surrey (Downtown, Newton)
• Terrace
• Vancouver (Chinatown, Downtown, Gastown, Hastings Sunrise, Strathcona, West End, Yaletown)
• Vernon
• Victoria (Downtown, Oak Bay)
• West Vancouver
• Willliams Lake