Assistance To Entrepreneurs

Mentors and Guidance

Most entrepreneurs (61%) thought that they had been able to find appropriate mentors. This result is extremely favorable for Arizona's entrepreneurial climate. We have an abundance of talented, experienced business people willing to assist the next generation of entrepreneurs.

State and City Support Programs

Not many entrepreneurs, only 26%, used any of the state or city supported programs for entrepreneurs, such as one-stop centers, Small Business Development Centers, and training tax credits. The most common reason given (47%) was that the time was not worth the effort to participate. However 41% said they were not aware of the available programs.

Professional Services Satisfaction

Respondents that had used a service were asked to rate the quality of services from professional firms located in Arizona from 1 -- very poor, to 5 -- outstanding.

The percentage of usage reflects how many of the survey participants rated the category, the point score is the average score, (the higher the score, the higher the level of satisfaction), and the ranking is based on how high the score was for that service.

Overall Arizona entrepreneurs seem to be very satisfied with the legal and accounting professions, and most entrepreneurs use those services as well, as Table 6 shows.

Law firms were rated the highest professional service and the most often used. Accountants were second in place in satisfaction but only by one tenth of a point. They were also in second place as far as usage. 56% of the respondents ranked law firms and accountants as a 4 or a 5. Law firms were ranked outstanding, a 5 rating, by 28%, and accountants by 19%.

It is generally recognized as critical for entrepreneurs to get comprehensive legal and accounting advice right from the start-up stage of their company. The fact that a significant number of entrepreneurs said they have not used attorneys (17%) and accountants (23%) is indicative that these entrepreneurs did not know how to find an appropriate advisor, or viewed these services as too costly.

Technological Systems Assistance, Business Planning Services/Management Consultants and Management, Leadership, Employee Training were ranked about average with a 3.1 or 3.0 rating.

There was some dissatisfaction expressed with the services of Human Resources/Recruiting, Marketing Firms and Public Relations firms but just marginally.

The greatest level of dissatisfaction was expressed for Intermediaries/ Finders/Corporate Finance Consultants. 55% gave a rate of 1 or 2, only 19% gave a rating of 4 or 5. These professional services also had the lowest level of usage by entrepreneurs as well.

The Media

Entrepreneurs were asked if they felt the media in Arizona -- newspapers, magazines, TV and radio -- are supportive of the entrepreneurial community. In other words, did they feel that the coverage and stories were important to entrepreneurs? The rating was from 1, no support, to 5, very supportive.

2.6 was the average response, indicating entrepreneurs were somewhat dissatisfied with the coverage and support from the media. Nearly 50% responded with a 1 or 2 to this question. They weren't sharply critical of the media, on the whole, however. 28% were a neutral "3" on this question, and 23% gave the media a positive 4 or 5 rating.

Quality of Management Talent in Arizona

There was little consensus on this question. The average score was a neutral 3.1.

4% rated management very poor, 1
21% gave management a rating of 2
44% voted 3
27% voted with a favorable 4
4% rated the management talent outstanding, 5

Entrepreneurs believe there is room for improvement in the management talent available in the state, but the problem is not seen as severe.