The latest sign the recession is truly receding: Florida business owners, at least the ones who responded to an American Express Open Small Business survey, pay themselves, on average, $75,500 a year.
That's an increase of 21.5% over last year, when owners paid themselves a salary, on average, of $62,100. More than half the owners polled, 55%, pay themselves a salary, which, counter to the actual amount, is a drop from 61% last year, according to the survey.
The report is derived from a survey of Florida small business owners and executives taken over telephone calls in September. Other survey nuggets are a play off the “what recession?” theme. Results include:
The rate of respondents who claim cash-flow issues for the next six months, 51%, is down, from 58% in the spring survey and 54% last year;
Almost two-thirds, 61%, have a positive outlook for their business prospects over the next six months;
Half will make capital investments over the next six months — though that's a large drop from 68% in the spring survey;
Nearly half, 47%, plan to hire within the next six months, up significantly from 34% in the spring and 30% in the fall. Plus, 41% plan to provide employees raises or bonuses this year.
More than four out 10, 44%, say they have a greater appetite for risk than they did a year ago.
Three out of 10 say the morale of their employees has improved over the last six months;
Respondents report 19% revenue growth over the last three years. And more than half, 52%, are confident revenues will increase over the next six months.