Volume 2, Issue 1
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
For RBD, It Was
a Very Good Year

Feature Stories:
Lessons Learned
Starting a small business can be a daunting proposition
Web Masters
RBD's online presence is a natural progression

RBD Round-Up:
How's Business?
The results are in from our
first survey
RBD Business Survey
What's your take on the rising cost of healthcare?

DEPARTMENTS:

Economic Round-Up
• The Smart Investor
How to minimize the affect of the Alternative Minimum Tax
• Economic Viewpoint
Interpreting the Inverted
Yield Curve
• Visitor's Guide
Tour busses in Rockland?

Retail Round-Up
• Where the Jobs Are
Tips for students looking
for work

Business Round-Up
• PSI Health Plans
Offer flexibility and
cost savings
• Marketing By Design
The top 15 campaigns of the last 100 years - Part 2

Ask The Expert
• The Human Factor in
Human Resources

Invest in Your Community
• Looking For a Better Way
Tomorrow's Workplace
offers help
• Leadership Rockland
Graduates class of 2007
• Youth Forum & Awards
Rockland Youth Volunteers Honored

Odds & Ends
• Letters to the Editor
• Rockland Newsmakers

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
Heart-felt Congratulations
to Rockland's only B2B resource

RBA/United Way Golf Outing
A beautiful day for all

RBA Happenings
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members

The results are in from Rockland Business Digest’s first survey, which sought to take the pulse of business in the County. The results were surprising, in some cases, and expected in others.

For example, the majority of respondents said the number one obstacle to doing business in Rockland was finding qualified job candidates: 53%. Surprising. Eight percent of those polled said they are considering relocation out of the county. Not surprising. Small businesses have long complained about the obstacles to doing business here so broadband issues turned up a strong number two, and lack of public transportation available to bring workers to Rockland was third.

Also a bit surprising, considering the economy is gaining momentum—the Dow has hit historical marks, unemployment is down, hiring is up—is the news that 58% of the businesses reported their earnings were flat in 2006. Just 17% reported increased revenue, while 25% claimed decreasing profits.

The respondents to the RBD were a mirror image of the business community: 66% categorized themselves as either sole proprietors or businesses with fewer than 10 employees; 26% were mid-sized (under 100 employees) and 8% had businesses with over 100 employees. The types of businesses ranged from retail and manufacturing, to accounting, banking, non-profits and publishing/advertising and marketing firms. RBD readers are given the opportunity in each issue to weigh in on a particular business subject through our surveys. In this issue, you’ll find a survey which is designed to gauge the pulse of your thoughts on healthcare issues.

Businesses strengths, according to our survey, are service (58%), reputation (58%), expertise (58%), staff (25%) and product line (17%), which makes sense given that the majority of Rockland’s small businesses are service related, rather than product driving.

Where almost all businesses feel they could use support included receivables (8%), taxes (33%), employee compensation (25%), HR (17%), outsourcing (17%), finding international contacts (8%). Just 17% said they needed no support.

For the complete survey and its results, please visit us at: www.rbdigest.com/issues/v1i5/Survey.asp.