The survey sought to amplify the voices of the small business community and expand participation beyond those traditionally engaged. It aimed to include a diverse range of businesses—from restaurants and retail to manufacturing and healthcare; from long-standing to new businesses; from women-owned to veteran- and multicultural-owned businesses. All local small business owners were encouraged to participate, including those with multiple locations both inside and outside the City.

Feedback from the survey provided insights into participant demographics, key challenges, needs, successes, and recommendations for future City programs and outreach strategies. The results will directly inform the development of programs, tools, and resources to support the small business community.

We invite owners of a local small business(es) to respond. Whether you would like to give quick responses or dive deeper into specific topics, every bit of feedback counts. Your responses will help shape programs, tools and resources to benefit the local small business community.

 

The timeframe for participating is now extended through February 28, 2025

Thank you Chula Vista! 

1. What is the name of your business(es)?

Closed for Comments

2. What type of business(es) do you operate?

Select all that apply.

Construction
Educational Services
Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Mental Health, etc.)
Hospitality
Maintenance/Repair (Auto Repair, Plumbing, Landscaping, etc.)
Manufacturing
Non-Profit
Personal Services (Salon, Spa, Gym, etc.)
Professional Services (Accounting, Legal, Real Estate, etc.)
Restaurant/Food Service
Retail
Sales (B2B, B2C, SaaS, etc.)
Technology
Other
Closed to responses

3. How many employees do you have (including yourself)?

1
2 - 5
6 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
Other
Closed to responses

4. What is the zip code of your business location(s)?

Select all that apply.

91902
91910
91911
91913
91914
91915
Other
Closed to responses

5. What languages do you and your employees use in operating your business(es)?

Select all that apply.

Chinese
English
Filipino
Spanish
Vietnamese
Prefer not to answer
Other
Closed to responses

6. How long have you been operating your business(es) in the City of Chula Vista?

Less than 1 year
1 - 3 years
4 - 10 years
More than 10 years
Closed to responses

7. When you opened your business in Chula Vista, was it:

Select all that apply

A new business
An existing business that expanded to Chula Vista
An existing business that relocated to Chula Vista from another City/State/Country
Other
Closed to responses

8. Why did you choose Chula Vista to open or expand your business?

Closed for Comments

9. Does your small business have any of the following certifications?

Select all that apply

Small Business (SB)/ Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)
Women's Business Enterprise (WBE)
Women Owned Small Business (WOSB)
Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)
Other
Closed to responses

10. In your opinion, what are the main advantages of conducting business in the City of Chula Vista?

Select all that apply.

Ability to interact with binational businesses at U.S./Mexico border
Access to capital/financing
Climate and/or good soil for agriculture
Cost of doing business
Cost of living
Diverse and multicultural communities (consumers and workforce)
Health care
Located here because of a family property/business/history
Location/Market Access
Natural resources/Recreational amenities and venues
Physical infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, power, etc.)
Quality of life, accessible local government
Suburban & historic areas
Strong industries
Visitors & tourism industry
Workforce
Other
Closed to responses

11. What are the top challenges your business(es) is currently facing?

Select all that apply.

Accessing financing
Commercial rents
Cost of labor
Crime (retail theft, violence, loitering, trespassing, etc.)
Finding qualified and skilled employees
Lack of market demand or client base
Lack of suitably sized or configured physical space
Maintaining or growing market share
Parking
Regulations, licensing, and permitting processes
Retaining employees
Supply chain constraints
Taxes and fees
Transportation issues (traffic congestion, transit, distance to other areas, etc.)
Other
Closed to responses

12. Other than corporate taxes, what are the most costly development or business regulations for your business(es)?

Select all that apply.

Building codes and permits
Data protection and privacy regulations
Employment regulations (e.g., labor laws, minimum wage requirements)
Environmental regulations
Health and safety regulations
Intellectual property regulations
Licensing and permit fees
Local taxation regulations (e.g., sales taxes, property taxes)
Zoning regulations
Other
Closed to responses

13. Please describe how these regulations impact your business(es)?

Closed for Comments

14. Which, if any, business resources or tools offered by the City of Chula Vista have you used?

Select all that apply.

Accessed Starting a Business online tools
Consulted Business Resources Guide
Contacted Economic Development staff for assistance
Submitted Business License application
I have not used any resources offered by the City of Chula Vista
Other
Closed to responses

15. If so, how effective were these resources in addressing your needs?

Very effective
Somewhat effective
Somewhat ineffective
Not at all effective
I have not used City resources
Closed to responses

16. What barriers, if any, have prevented you from using the City's resources?

Select all that apply.

Challenges with requirements
Difficulty accessing resources
Lack of awareness
Language barriers
Programs do not meet my needs
Timing conflicts with my schedule
No barriers
Other
Closed to responses

17. What additional support or resources could help your small business(es) succeed?

Select all that apply.

Access to funding or financing options
Access to market and industry research
Assistance with navigating City/County/State government regulations and permits
Business incubator or accelerator programs
Business model planning and review
Commercial property financing
Commercial property lease contract review
Commercial real estate financing and assistance; knowledge of real estate markets
E-commerce platform/digital presence
International trade and export assistance
Legal support and services
Marketing and promotional support
Networking opportunities with other businesses and industry leaders
Procurement /Contracting (government contracts & large corporations)
Sustainability and green business initiatives
Tax credits
Technology adoption and digital transformation support (AI, Cloud, etc.)
Workforce development and training programs
Other
Closed to responses

18. What is one thing the City of Chula Vista could do to make it easier to operate a small business here?

Closed for Comments

19. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions for the City?

Closed for Comments

20. What is the most effective way for the City to communicate with your business?

Email
Text messages
In-person meetings or workshops
Other
Closed to responses
Contact Information

Contact Information (Optional)
Based on feedback from this survey, we will develop ways to communicate and engage with small business owners in the future. If you would like to stay informed and involved, please share your contact information: