Coronavirus Insights Poll: Week 9

Premium Plus
May 14th, 2020

Week In Review:

  • 397K small business owners have shared their status so far. Thanks so much for participating. You're fueling the voice of small businesses everywhere!
  • Finally, COVID-19's impact declined 5% in just 1 week. Still 80% are affected, but that's a big change. What caused it? More owners are back in business & more have received government funding. 
  • CARES ACT UPDATE: SMBs with Federal Funds... DOUBLED
    • 57.6% have cash in hand, (up from just 28% last week)
    • 11.4% were approved, but haven't received funds yet
    • 23.8% applied, but haven't heard back
    • 7.2% were denied
  • Online Networking Is Very "IN" Now: See tips from 175 experts on the dos & don'ts of building digital business relationships.
  • Hot Off The Presses: The media is all abuzz, telling your stories. MSN Money, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Westwood One Radio shared your views on the recovery & more.
  • Congressman Mike Thompson honored us all by citing our poll in a piece of proposed legislation: the Keeping The Lights On Act
  • Finally, is your community coming together to reopen the right way? Stay tuned for more stories on that topic in our next update.  #SmallBusinessStrong.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Do What You Can To Safely Drive More Revenue Into Your Business 

Enhance your online commerce, delve into online networking, offer new services, get the government funding you deserve, and reopen, if you're able to do it in your state or province.

    This Week's Pulse Poll Update

    Down By 5%... To 80% Of All Businesses Impacted

    Less Intense Impact Among Most States 


    Many states are getting lighter, reflecting some declines in impact, while others have experienced increases. You can see how everything has evolved from March 13 onward right here:


    Compare our Top 25 lists from last week and this week to see who's up and who's down.

    This is how last week's Top 25 looked:


    Here is this week's list of Top 25 States:


    New Mexico came out of the ranks of the least-impacted states to become the second most-intensely affected state in the U.S. 

    • Maryland jumped from No. 22 to No. 10.
    • Rhode Island is now No. 1.
    • Other states remain hot zones week-to-week, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. 

    While some pressure is easing around the U.S., it is important to note that percentages are still rather high, even in less-affected states. 

    Ups & Downs In Canada


    Canada’s Top 3 Most-Impacted Provinces last week were:

    • Prince Edward Island (94%)
    • Nova Scotia (93%)
    • Quebec (87%)

    But this week, look how things have changed

    • Saskatchewan (89%)
    • Quebec (84.2%)
    • Ontario (84%)


    Saskatchewan jumped 13% to take the top spot. Prince Edward Island had a decline of 23% to end up at 71%. 

    While provinces are shifting on the Top 3 list, overall, percentages of impact are down. For the first time in two months, the Top 3 provinces are all under 90%.

    Big Topics For NEXT WEEK:


    Who Has Reopened? 

    How Is It Going? 

    How Well Is Your Community Banding Together? 

    Be sure to let us know how you feel about all of these issues & what you're experiencing, so that we can keep tapping our network of 5 million small business owners to get you the advice and help you need. 

    Thanks for reading!

    Stay healthy & stay strong. #SmallBusinessStrong


    For data from past weekly pulse polls, see these articles:

    560 Comments 140k Views

    Comments (1-10)

    Greetings Sirs

    Thanks for this useful article. I really appreciate the fact that you take the time out checking up/ sharing your concerns about my business.

    I no that lots of businesses affected by this coronavirus. And i can give my thoughts an

    that as well it it a very serious time we are living in. And as business owners we have to be focused. And still let our customers no we That we cared about them and their needs and we are feeling their pain. Especially those who losing their loveones who died or is hospitalized from the coronavirus plague.

    But we have to be strong in all of this and swim instead of sinking. Life goes on. I make my coaching sessions available on the line so it is not affected too much. My prayers is behind my fellow businesses to be strong and try not to be distracted. This too shall pass soon.

    I never closed. I own a Certified Allergen Free Certified Kosher Bakery/baking company. We are considered ESSENTIAL. I had to cut staff hours to maintain safety in the facility, and stagger hours for safety, but we continue to fulfill triple the amount  of online orders, and now do curbside and home delivery. People with Celiac and food Allergies need safe food and we provide it. 

    With a chocolate business, online sales can be tricky and costly to ship. I’ve been offering home delivery to help sales. I have many loyal customers that have been a Godsend. I missed my busiest time of year. Now I’m entering my slowest time of year. I will continue to offer Online orders and home/business delivery and have curbside pick up a couple of days a week, at least. I’ve pulled back on every expense possible. Staying strong, things will get better. 

    Lee Jacobsen from Jacobsen Industries, Inc.
    Lee Jacobsen from Jacobsen Industries, Inc.
    Debra, you could be an 'essential' business as it is rumored that 'Dark' chocolate is beneficial in combating the Chinese corona Covid 19 virus. My favorite is 92% dark. If I were you, open the doors immediately , and promote the benefits of chocolate, especially the dark variety, to maintain one's endurance against the dreaded covid 19 virus, with only a 99.3% chance survival rate....(sarcasm). Are the benefits substantiated? Who cares? Prove that they are not.....and, of course , add a lot of ..."to the best of my knowledge"....and "check it out on Google"....etc. As a PPE manufacturer, we make millions of alcohol wipes, plastic visors, and, to my point about questionable health benefits....the little aluminum stiffeners that go on the face masks. Dark Chocolate Questionable as a Covid 19 health aid? We also offer the nose stiffeners made out of Zinc, which, if you check on google, the zinc near you allows one to live a healthy life just as the copper bracelets do.....all garbage of course, but still, documented on line. We are all free to decide for ourselves. Of course, the zinc we price at double the cost, say ten cents each rather than 5 cents.....why? Folks want the zinc, so demand says 'price it higher'. Look at it another way. If your mind is eased by eating dark chocolate and wearing a face mask with zinc on it.....then that's a good thing...right? Bottom line....Open the doors as a Speak Easy, on the QT....and see what happens. The upside is certainly better than the downside.....

    Thanks for the survey!  COVID-19  has tremendously hurt my business.  As a small minority  business owner in retails it has been very difficult to get people to come out and shop.  People were truly afraid.  Now it is like I am starting up all over again.  Bills are due and has to be paid.  Companies are looking for their money and you don’t have any to give.   What is a person to do?   My plans are to take one day at a time.  Do my best to make sure everyone is safe and help implement social distancing, sanitizing my store, everyone will wear a face mask 😷 and do what I need to do to stay afloat.  

    We were able to reopen on May 4th after being closed for 5 weeks.  After 2 weeks, it’s starting to get back to normal, whatever that is.  We’re having people stay outside with their pups during drop off & pick up to minimize contact.  They let us know when they’re on their way, so we can meet them outside.  Constantly washing hands & wiping down front door handle.  Most of my regulars are back & easing into their schedule.  I even got a new client this week who is the cutest Bernedoodle you’ve ever seen.  She’s blue merle & is about 3 months old.  This is what makes my job fun.

    Everyday is a challenge as we don’t know what to expect next.  I’m assuming this will be the new norm for the foreseeable future.  The important thing is that we all have to unite to pull through these challenging times.

    The banks are not giving money to those who need it the most, they are favoring their big clients who take millions so they can get their higher processing. The really small business who qualifies for less than 100k are being ignored because they don't offer bigger processing. Using the banks was not a better way of handling this help for small business. SBA should have handled it itself. If you don't bank with them, you are simply ignored, and you don't get any help while you are the one who needs it the most.

    I need new resources to help pay my rent keeps my business door open  and put food on my table for my kid’s. Cause the SBA Loan For small business it’s a joke they’re make it difficult for people like us to qualify for the money.

    Observing peoples attitude this week to positive trends in Ontario, I fear business and people will become careless with distancing guidelines and other measures to protect themselves and others. Everyone needs to remember how we achieved the positive trends. It is not over yet.