Executive Summary
The May 2025 Sanibel Business Survey reveals a community showing resilience in recovery, with 60 local businesses participating. The average business health rating of 6.05/10 reflects ongoing challenges, while 63% express optimism about future conditions improving for the next busy season.
Key Finding: While 29% of Sanibel businesses experienced revenue decline compared to last year, 42% saw revenue increase, with 63% expecting conditions to improve for the next busy season.
Critical Insight: Hospitality and tourism businesses represent 31% of respondents, making it the largest sector. Small businesses (0-10 employees) comprise the majority of surveyed companies.
Key Survey Metrics
6.05
Average Business Health (out of 10)
63%
Optimism Rate
29%
Revenue Decline vs Last Year
63%
Small Businesses (0-10 employees)
Industry Composition
| Industry | Businesses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality, Tourism | 19 | 31.7% |
| Retail | 8 | 13.3% |
| Professional Services | 8 | 13.3% |
| Restaurant, Food & Beverage | 7 | 11.7% |
| Nonprofit | 6 | 10.0% |
| Real Estate, Development | 4 | 6.7% |
| Other | 4 | 6.7% |
| Finance | 3 | 5.0% |
| Construction | 1 | 1.7% |
Insight: The survey captures a diverse business ecosystem dominated by hospitality/tourism (30%), professional services and restaurants (13% each). This diversity suggests economic resilience, though the heavy reliance on tourism-related sectors indicates vulnerability to seasonal factors.
Business Health Distribution
Health Rating Scale (1=Poor, 10=Excellent)
Analysis: The distribution shows a business community at varied stages of recovery. While businesses rate their health across the full spectrum, the average of 6.05/10 indicates moderate recovery progress, though conditions remain uneven across different business sectors.
Revenue Performance vs Last Year
| Revenue Status | Number of Businesses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Increased | 25 | 42% |
| Revenue Flat | 18 | 30% |
| Down 1-25% | 10 | 17% |
| Down 26-50% | 4 | 7% |
| Down 51-75% | 3 | 5% |
| Zero Revenue | 3 | 5% |
Analysis: While 42% of businesses exceeded last year's revenue, 34% faced declines or zero revenue. The majority experiencing decline (17%) saw modest reductions of 1-25%, suggesting manageable challenges rather than catastrophic losses for most affected businesses.
Primary Business Concerns
| Concern | Businesses Reporting | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Reliable Revenue Stream | 38 | 63% |
| Overall Financial Stability | 21 | 35% |
| Adequate Staffing Levels | 14 | 23% |
| Physical Repairs | 11 | 18% |
| Access to Capital | 11 | 18% |
Critical Issues:
- Reliable Revenue Stream (63%): The top concern reflects ongoing uncertainty in customer demand and seasonal fluctuations
- Overall Financial Stability (35%): More than one-third of businesses worry about their financial foundation
- Adequate Staffing (23%): The persistent labor shortage continues to impact operations
- Physical Repairs (18%): Ongoing infrastructure needs from past storms remain unaddressed
Future Outlook
63%
Expect Improvement
28%
Expect Same
8%
Expect Decline
Encouraging Sign: Despite ongoing challenges, 63% of Sanibel businesses expect conditions to improve for the next busy season, while only 8% expect decline.
Survey Methodology
Survey Period: May 19-29, 2025
Total Responses: 60 Sanibel businesses
Geographic Focus: 100% Sanibel Island businesses
Methodology: Online survey distributed through the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce member network