The pandemic has initiated the need for greater safety and sanitation practices at homes, workplaces, and businesses alike. It has forced many people to stay indoors, avoid travel, and the resulting financial strain has prompted many to tighten their budget and cut back on consumer spending. For business owners this means making tough decisions such as changing operating procedures, laying off employees, or in some cases, closing down altogether.

To explore the impact of the pandemic on the state’s small businesses, the Florida SBDC Network, the Florida Chamber Foundation, and the University of West Florida Haas Center partnered to conduct a survey of Florida’s small businesses during the summer of 2020. This survey was designed to identify the types of small businesses that were affected by the pandemic and assess the damage to business operations overall. 4,842 business owners from over 95 percent of Florida’s counties participated in the survey, and the results are compelling.