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The respondents to a new business owner survey from BMO Harris Bank are a happy bunch.
To wit: Nearly all of the respondents, 96%, feel their business will either grow or stay at the same level this year, according to the survey. More than three-fourths, 80%, believe the U.S. economy will either improve or stay the same this year, and 92% feel the Florida economy will either improve or stay the same this year.
“It's a very encouraging sign that Florida business owners are so confident about their company outlooks in 2014,” BMO Harris Bank Managing Director Andrew Cardimen says in a release. “While we've certainly seen progress to date, there's a bit of apprehension when it comes to the prospects for the overall U.S. economy.”
The survey also polled why business owners like doing business in Florida over other states. Lower taxes was the biggest advantage, at 24%, climate and weather was second, at 20%, and a large workforce was third, at 8%.
“We have a number of companies in Florida that have weathered the economic downturn well,” says Cardimen, who also runs commercial banking in Florida for BMO Harris. “Many are in better shape than they were five years ago, with stronger balance sheets and more efficient operations.”
BMO Harris Bank has more than 600 branches spread through Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Arizona.
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