1. Preliminary Survey Results

2. Brief Survey Statistics SME’s Complete Survey – 550 SME’s partially complete – 400 USA – 33% of businesses UK - 26% Canada – 15% Australia – 13% Belgium – 4% Ireland – 2%

3. OPENING QUESTIONS

4. What industry do you operate within?

5. What is your annual revenue?

6. What level of impact is the current economic climate having on your business?

7. What country do you predominately trade in?

8. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

9. My levels of inventory have increased

10. R&D/Product Development/Exploration plans have been deferred

11. There is greater uncertainty in my supply chain

12. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON MARKETING AND SALES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

13. My marketing expenditure has been reduced

14. There is greater pressure on prices

15. It is harder to make a sale (customers driving a better deal, aggressive competitors etc)

16. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

17. My expenditure on IT will be deferred

18. I am looking for increased internal efficiencies

19. I am more prepared to take risks so I can keep the business alive when things are tough

20. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

21. I will defer recruitment that was planned

22. Salary increases will be lower than planned

23. My team is concerned about the viability of the business

24. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON FINANCE AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

25. Finance is getting harder to obtain

26. My customers are taking longer to pay

27. My forecast profits will fall

28. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON BUSINESS DEBT AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS.

29. Is your business substantially funded by debt?

30. Are you concerned about your ability to service this debt?

31. Have you used personal assets to provide security for this debt?

32. If your debt financing was withdrawn would you have an alternative way of financing the business and continuing trading?