The FPB, a business support and lobby organisation, and Graydon UK, a leading UK credit reference agency, are undertaking research into the market for credit and the key issues for business finance in 2010.   The FPB and Graydon will use the results to inform the Small Business Finance Forum, a meeting of business groups, banks and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. We will also communicate the issues uncovered in this research to other financial institutions and relevant bodies, using Graydon’s expertise as a leading credit management company to ensure your voice is heard.   All responses are completely confidential and the only use of your email address will be to allow us to contact your business if you win the prize draw.   The time taken to complete this questionnaire will vary depending on the answers you give. It should, however, take no more than 10 minutes.   What are the key issues for your business at present?   Which of the options below is the current priority for your business? Reducing time spent on red tape   Reducing the cost of doing business   Stability in tax regime to help financial planning   Which, if any, of the additional sources of credit listed below have you applied for in the last 6 months? (please tick all relevant) Business loans   Equity finance New/extended overdraft provision   Credit from your supply chain Hire purchase or leasing agreement   Loans from directors, friends or family Invoice discounting or factoring   Investment through our own profits or company deposits rather than requiring further credit New/extension to credit card facilities   No new credit was required

Approximately how much additional credit or capital did you seek? Under £1,000   £10,000 to £19,999   £100,000 to £499,999 £1,000 to £4,999   £20,000 to £49,999   £500,000 or more £5,000 to £9,999   £50,000 to £99,999   Do not know   What were the reasons for seeking this credit for the business? (please tick all relevant) Investment in new machinery/IT systems   Increased cost from suppliers going insolvent Investment in new products or services   Unforeseen additional costs to the business Acquire additional premises/improve premises   Poor profits/turnover to pay for the cost of doing business Other investment for expansion including marketing support   Refinancing the business Short-term bridging loan to meet cashflow issues such as late payment   To take account of the fluctuating demand for our products/services Bad debt/customers going bankrupt   Not able to cust costs further   Were you successful in accessing credit? (please tick one per row)   Yes   Yes, but it was harder than it used to be   We were refused credit   Business loans       Overdrafts       Hire purchase and leasing provision       Invoice discounting or factoring       New / extension to credit card facilities       Equity finance       Credit from your supply chain       What reason(s) were you given for being refused credit? (please tick all relevant) No credit history   Too much existing debt   Cost of finance was prohibitive Poor personal credit history   Inadequate business plan   Other Poor business credit history   Applied for too much   No reason given Insufficient security   Industry too risky   Do not know   What was the other reason?

What are your plans for 2010? Grow substantially ( by over 10%)   Stay the same size   Decline substantially/close the business Grow   Decline   Do not know   How likely are you to require finance for your business in the next three months? Very likely   Likely   Unlikely   Very unlikely   What are the likely reasons for seeking this credit for the business? (please tick all relevant) Investment in new machinery/IT systems   Increased cost from suppliers going insolvent Investment in new products or services   Unforeseen additional costs to the business Acquire additional premises/improve premises   Poor profits/turnover to pay for the cost of doing business Other investment for expansion including marketing support   Refinancing the business Short-term bridging loan to meet cashflow issues such as late payment   To take account of the fluctuating demand for our products/services Bad debt/customers going bankrupt   Not able to cut costs further   Very approximately, how much in additional capital do you think you will need? Under £1,000   £10,000 to £19,999   £100,000 to £499,999 £1,000 to £4,999   £20,000 to £49,999   £500,000 or more £5,000 to £9,999   £50,000 to £99,999   Do not know   What proportion of this capital would you seek from banks? None   25% to 49%   75% to 99% Less then 25%   50% to 74%   All   Where else would you look for the bulk of this funding? Government grants   Company directors, friends and family Supply chain (suppliers or customers)   Credit cards Venture capitalists   Building societies   What is the main reason for this?

What do you feel are the main obstacles for your business in terms of access to finance in 2010?   What impact do you feel the European Commission Competition ruling on the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group will have on your business? Positive impact   No real impact   Negative impact   Do not know   In what way? (please tick all relevant) Competition/choice   Access to finance   Advice on finance   Interest on deposit accounts Terms and conditions of lending   Cost of finance   Customer service   Do not know   Do you check the credit rating of your key suppliers/customers? Both suppliers and customers   Only check on them when there is an issue Suppliers only   Do not check Customers only   Do not know   Does this affect the payment terms you negotiate with your suppliers?   Yes   No   Does this affect the credit terms you offer to your customers?   Yes   No   If known, what is your current business credit rating?   Do not know   Good   Average   Poor   How important do you think it will be to have a good business credit rating in 2010? Very important   Fairly important   Unimportant   Do not know   Do you know how to influence your business credit rating? Yes   No, but I would like to   No

The final few questions will assist our analysis and help us identify any problems facing particular industries or business sizes.   How many employees do you have?   Under 5   6 to 10   11 to 24   25 to 49   50 or more   Which of the following best describes your business? Manufacturing   Transport, storage, wholesale   Business services Construction   Shops, hotels and restaurants   Health, education and personal services   What is the first half of your business postcode? e.g OX3 (this is for localising the research only)   Would you like to receive a copy of the results?   Yes   No   What is your email address? (if you would like to be eligible for the prize draw and/or receive a copy of the results)