Jacksonville plunges in small-biz vitality

[mtraininjax]

We all know how tough business is right now, this does not help our community!

Metro Jacksonville ranked 58th in the small-business vitality standings of 100 major metropolitan areas, as rated by The Business Journals, the online arm of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s parent company, American City Business Journals Inc.
That’s a sharp downturn from a year ago, when Jacksonville was 13th, and from 2009, when the city ranked 25th. (Click here to see the full national standings.)
The rankings are based on a six-part formula that rewards markets that have prosperous economies, are expanding rapidly, and are densely packed with small businesses. (The study defines a small business as any private-sector employer with 99 or fewer employees.)

2011 rank   58
2010 rank   13
2009 rank   25
Metropolitan area   Jacksonville
Small-business vitality score   0.863
Small businesses (2008)   34,497
Small businesses per 1,000 residents (2008)   26.20
Change in private-sector employment (2005-10)   -6.43%
Change in population (2004-09)   8.62%
Population (2009)   1,328,144

[Garden guy]

The city has gotten too big for it's britches and now we're paying for it..unsupported development by rich boys playing with our hometown. Until low income and middle income people start their own businesses and starting them without loans. Most small business fail due to debt. Start small and grow proportionately. It takes patience and perseverance.

[Bativac]

There are lots of us current residents who are looking to start an independent business and wouldn't even consider doing it in Jacksonville. Too many factors working against you that aren't an issue in other, more vibrant areas. There's a mindset among would-be entrepeneurs this year about Jacksonville that wasn't there in more optimistic years past.

[urbanlibertarian]

There are lots of us current residents who are looking to start an independent business and wouldn't even consider doing it in Jacksonville. Too many factors working against you that aren't an issue in other, more vibrant areas. There's a mindset among would-be entrepeneurs this year about Jacksonville that wasn't there in more optimistic years past.

Can you be more specific about the factors working against small business in Jax?

[RiversideLoki]

I hate to say it, but you have to be incredibly resourceful these days to run a small business. Our little firm has had the benefit of an awesome owner, and she's got us in the SBRN, SSBC, chamber, and a couple other local organizations. As much of a liberal as I am in that I disagree with having to use connections to gain business, I have to admit we've benefited from the connections. We are actually busy as hell right now due to the new clients.

Will it be sustainable growth? I don't know, that part of business isn't my forte. But I do know by way of anecdotal evidence that we're in a much better position than some of our competitors.

Jacksonville is a weird market. Good ol' boys rule the day, and you unfortunately are left to either conform or resist and hope that the network of well to dos values the product or service you provide.

[Garden guy]

I've never worked for someone in my adult years..being self employeed has it's ups and downs and i'm not sure if i would be a very good employee for someone else..i've always worked hard and do more than one thing to earn my living as many us do.

[Garden guy]

Most of us will survive this downturn in the economy and it'll be because of tenacity and persiverance and doing things you might not thought you'd do. Jacksonville has the population for a thriving city but for some reason the conservative minded right wing big boys of jacksonville want to have thier fingers on everthing and the powers that be make it very easy for them..all it take are names and a little this and that...i've seen buildings get permits in this city that never should have but because of ties and families...alls well.

[danem]

I've never worked for someone in my adult years..being self employeed has it's ups and downs and i'm not sure if i would be a very good employee for someone else..i've always worked hard and do more than one thing to earn my living as many us do.

We're all self employed these days, no matter how many sources the paycheck comes from.

[Bativac]

There are lots of us current residents who are looking to start an independent business and wouldn't even consider doing it in Jacksonville. Too many factors working against you that aren't an issue in other, more vibrant areas. There's a mindset among would-be entrepeneurs this year about Jacksonville that wasn't there in more optimistic years past.

Can you be more specific about the factors working against small business in Jax?

Sure. Note that I'm speaking for myself, my wife, and a handful of friends.
1) The attitude of locals seems geared towards chains from out of town that are already well established elsewhere.
2) Commercial landlords seem to think their property is worth a heck of a lot more than it really is, based on the Jacksonville market.
3) For a little while there, it looked like downtown was on the upswing - now it's definitely headed in the other direction.
4) The city's sign ordinances don't help matters. How'm I supposed to let people on the street know my business is there?
5) General quality of life - yeah, it's fairly cheap to live here, but for young adults looking for an interesting and vibrant urban environment, Jax just doesn't cut it. The entrepreneurial young person wants to be someplace with more going on.

Just my view. I'm sure there are other factors keeping would-be entrepreneurs from starting up locally. I'd love to hear contrasting points from anybody who thinks it'd be a good idea to start a business here.

And Garden Guy - my dad has also been self employed most of his adult life, as an artist. But much of his work is from Ponte Vedra, St Johns County, and other non-metro Jacksonville areas. He's thought several times of opening a gallery in town and ultimately decided against it. He's told me time and again that one of his biggest mistakes was not leaving town.

[urbanlibertarian]

There are lots of us current residents who are looking to start an independent business and wouldn't even consider doing it in Jacksonville. Too many factors working against you that aren't an issue in other, more vibrant areas. There's a mindset among would-be entrepeneurs this year about Jacksonville that wasn't there in more optimistic years past.

Can you be more specific about the factors working against small business in Jax?

Sure. Note that I'm speaking for myself, my wife, and a handful of friends.
1) The attitude of locals seems geared towards chains from out of town that are already well established elsewhere.
2) Commercial landlords seem to think their property is worth a heck of a lot more than it really is, based on the Jacksonville market.
3) For a little while there, it looked like downtown was on the upswing - now it's definitely headed in the other direction.
4) The city's sign ordinances don't help matters. How'm I supposed to let people on the street know my business is there?
5) General quality of life - yeah, it's fairly cheap to live here, but for young adults looking for an interesting and vibrant urban environment, Jax just doesn't cut it. The entrepreneurial young person wants to be someplace with more going on.

Just my view. I'm sure there are other factors keeping would-be entrepreneurs from starting up locally. I'd love to hear contrasting points from anybody who thinks it'd be a good idea to start a business here.

And Garden Guy - my dad has also been self employed most of his adult life, as an artist. But much of his work is from Ponte Vedra, St Johns County, and other non-metro Jacksonville areas. He's thought several times of opening a gallery in town and ultimately decided against it. He's told me time and again that one of his biggest mistakes was not leaving town.

Thanks, Bativac.  I don't see what COJ can do about nos. 1 and 2.  Nos. 3 and 4 are real hot topics on this site and in the local elections.  I would favor repeal of the sign ordinance, relaxation of zoning restrictions and permitting/approvals and replacing of parking meters with time limits.  No. 5 won't improve much until economic growth takes off again.

[904Scars]

We're all self employed these days, no matter how many sources the paycheck comes from.

Not one to argue but how do you firgure?

On the same topic but another note... I've considered opening a small business for a couple years now but Jacksonville just doesn't feel like the right place.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Two comments to Bativac:

Unaware of your business plan, but it takes a strong following, even in a good market, to push a product that people can even get in the chain stores.  The only thing that you can provide is impeccable customer service.  They will eat you up in price, availability, location, etc...   As I said, not sure what widget you're looking to sell or what idea you have, but it's damn near impossible to compete agains the giants without some magic beans.

Secondly, I think the days of a storefront are getting numbered for many businesses due to the availability of several ways of getting your product / idea in front of people without them having to come to you.  That's overhead that I feel could be put to better use than having a front.  Once again, not knowing what it is, have you thought of co-opping with a similar business?  A symbiotic relationship with an established place that could pimp your wares.  If yours takes off, then it benefits their business as well.

[904Scars]

Two comments to Bativac:
Secondly, I think the days of a storefront are getting numbered for many businesses due to the availability of several ways of getting your product / idea in front of people without them having to come to you.  That's overhead that I feel could be put to better use than having a front.  Once again, not knowing what it is, have you thought of co-opping with a similar business?  A symbiotic relationship with an established place that could pimp your wares.  If yours takes off, then it benefits their business as well.

I agree with this 100%. In fact, it's funny you mention co-opping with another business because that's actually been my next step as toward obtaining my own business. I've found an already up and running business where the owner has similar interests. We have spoken a bit about the possibilities but it's something we have both agreed to proceed with caution on, and only because of the ever declining need for store front retail in the 21st century.

[danem]

We're all self employed these days, no matter how many sources the paycheck comes from.

Not one to argue but how do you firgure?

On the same topic but another note... I've considered opening a small business for a couple years now but Jacksonville just doesn't feel like the right place.

Basically the old days of being dependent on one employer for most of your life for your salary, benefits, and even retirement are mostly over. For most, that one employer can now drop you without warning for any reason, and even if that doesn't happen, chances are you will seek other employers when personal and professional growth becomes stagnant. OR...you start doing your own thing.

I'm curious, What kind of business were you thinking of?

[904Scars]

We're all self employed these days, no matter how many sources the paycheck comes from.

Not one to argue but how do you firgure?

On the same topic but another note... I've considered opening a small business for a couple years now but Jacksonville just doesn't feel like the right place.

Basically the old days of being dependent on one employer for most of your life for your salary, benefits, and even retirement are mostly over. For most, that one employer can now drop you without warning for any reason, and even if that doesn't happen, chances are you will seek other employers when personal and professional growth becomes stagnant. OR...you start doing your own thing.

I'm curious, What kind of business were you thinking of?

I agree that the "old days" of employment have come and gone for most however that still doesn't make one self-employed. I get where you are coming from but with my current job, I'm constantly pushing to sell more and more each month and for what? Not my paycheck that's for sure. Regardless of my monthly outcome I get paid no more than the month before, I recieve no bonus, the big boys do however. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating that the better my company does each month the better they look and the more they are rewarded, not me. You own you're own business, yes of course there is more risk but when YOU do better one month it's YOU that sees the benefit.

To answer your question though, I've been looking into motorcycle parts/accessories retail with the possibility of a small repair shop doing basic maintenance and repairs. The problem is there are so many shops already open in Jacksonville, so I would have to reach out to a section of the city that has few and far between shops (considered the "Urban Core"). Regardless online sales continue to grow while retail store front continues to decline. If I were to open a shop I would have a very small store front and concentrate most of my sales online.