Alignable: Special Report -- 76% of Small Businesses Fear Delta Variant Surges Will Hurt Their Recovery
Alignable's August Recovery Poll shows that more than three out of four small business owners (76%) are concerned that surges in Delta variant cases will impede their efforts to rebound.
In fact, while inflation has been listed as the No. 1 (and the fastest-growing) concern among small businesses over the past few months, the fear of the government closing businesses again because of COVID (specifically the Delta variant) is August’s top concern among all business owners polled.
Nearly half (47%) of small business owners cited reclosures as their biggest worry, which is the highest that concern has registered in the past 15 months! The chart below illustrates that alarming statistic vividly.
Conducted among 5,164 small businesses this week, 7/31/21 to 8/5/21, Alignable’s August Recovery Poll also showed concerns were even more pronounced among minority-owned businesses, as well as a variety of industries that were most-devastated during the first year of the COVID Crisis.
A majority of minorities running businesses (83%) said they’re worried about the Delta variant, with 44% adding that they’re “highly concerned.”
Other groups fear the effects of the Delta variant, as well, but to a slightly lesser extent:
- 71% of men owning small businesses said they’re worried (30% assert they’re highly concerned)
- 66% of women business owners feel the same way (39% are highly concerned)
- 55% of veterans are worried, too, but only 29% are highly concerned.
Industry Statistics Are Even More Staggering
While 76% of all small businesses expressed concern about the Delta variant, percentages were even higher among many industries that struggled the most during the toughest days of the COVID Crisis earlier this year and last year.
A monumental 88% of restaurant owners fear that the Delta variant could hurt their businesses, with the majority of this group, 55%, saying that they’re highly concerned.
Similar worries have been expressed by 87% of travel/lodging professionals, as well as 86% of event planners, 83% of photographers, 81% of entertainers/artists, 77% of retailers, and 76% of gym owners/fitness trainers.
Meanwhile, 70% of construction company owners and 68% of real estate agents say the Delta variant could adversely affect their businesses in the coming months, as well.
One polltaker, who runs a children's theater company, says her business has already been affected by the Delta variant.
"At the beginning of the summer, my business was slowly starting to come back, although I only had 28% of the number of bookings from the pre-COVID era. However, 50% of my bookings cancelled, THIS WEEK, due to several POSITIVE cases of COVID IN YOUNG CHILDREN and schools having to SUDDENLY CLOSE. My business is currently is in a "wait and see" mode. I don't foresee that I will be operating again, until the Delta virus is under control."
Delta Variant Fears Rage Across Long-Suffering States
Small businesses across the U.S. are afraid about how Delta variant surges might damage their livelihoods.
But worries are more intense in some states that suffered the most last year and earlier in 2021.
New York-based small business owners are the most concerned across the U.S. with 82% of them saying they’re worried, and 36% of that group is highly concerned.
Here are the percentages of small business owners who are generally concerned vs. being highly concerned. These numbers are high no matter how you look at them, though some states are bracing for harder times than others.
- MA -- 78% (43%)
- IL -- 77%, (41%)
- CA -- 75%, (36%)
- FL: 74%, (36%)
- GA: 73%, (29%)
- NJ: 71%, (33%)
- OH: 71%, (21%)
- TX: 67%, (31%)
- PA: 65%, (30%)
- NC: 63%, (29%)
- CO: 62%, (26%)
- VA: 50%, (22%)
What Are The Most Concerning Consequences?
Among all of the negative effects that the Delta variant could produce, the top three concerns were that:
- Customer fears would escalate, preventing visits to their shops or offices
- Their clients’ businesses could be negatively impacted, resulting in lost revenue for them
- Employees, customers, and vendors could become ill
For more insights on this poll, including more data from other states, please contact me at chuck@alignable.com.
To see other polls we’ve conducted since March 2020, please go to the Alignable Research Center.
ABOUT THE ALIGNABLE RESEARCH CENTER
Alignable is the largest online referral network for small businesses with over 6.5 million members across North America.
We established our research center in early March 2020, to track and report the impact of the Coronavirus on small businesses, and to monitor recovery efforts, informing the media, policymakers, and our members.
Comments (1-10)
We should be more worried about living life to the fullest instead of living in fear. The world isn't safe, as neither the masks nor the injections of foreign materials will protect us, but I believe in Free Choice. I'm sad for those that have lost loved ones to the virus. Learn the facts and be part of the solution, because those of us that make the unpopular decisions due to our knowledge of the truth doesn't make us the enemy, but rather more concerned about everyone.
The Delta Variant will not hurt businesses, but the individuals in public health and elected office certainly will. Its never been the virus, it has ALWAYS been the people in charge who created this mess. Decisions driven by people who want more power and money.
Let people have the ability to fight. Humans are resilient and will find a way. As an employer we feel it is best to respect the wishes of each employee, as long as everyone is safe, they can choose to work from home or office with out judgment. At this point we do have a healthy and willing workforce who wants to get life going again. Respect each other and be safe.
The sooner we all get vaccinated the sooner this worldwide pandemic will be over and we can all get back to business.
What is the answer here? If we all decided to hold on a little longer in order for this pandemic to pass and do whatever is recommended by health officials and continue to mask and social distance, get vaccinated to protect those who have not been vaccinated, would it hurt that much? If it saved 1 individual, wouldn't it be worth it? Healthcare workers are struggling during this also. Can we help them by not doing things to hurt them? If anyone has been in the hospital during the past year, it is definitely not made up. It is real. Can we do it to help each other, to prevent what is preventable?
Fear is like a sell-fulfilling prophecy many times. If you are afraid of something and dwell on it intellectually or emotionally long enough; it may become your reality.
Without a doubt some concerns are warranted. But, concerns shouldn't give anyone an excuse not to take action and adapt their attitudes and strategies. We live in a different world from what it was even two or three years ago. Remember that dreaded term, "new normal"?
If you are afraid that Government may close down some sectors; prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Explore ways to pivot or expand your offerings so you are not shut down.
If you are concerned that inflation is raising your cost of doing business; find ways to cut your costs.
If you are concerned that your vendors or employers may fall ill; encourage them to get vaccinated.
No matter how worried you are or scared you may be of the future; you are the only one that do anything about it today. Learn, adapt, grow and take action. You can do it.
Get vaccinated!!!! Use vaccine passports, spread the right information. Getting rid of this virus, like it was done with polio, depends on the majority of the population being immunized and that's the only way to proceed!
You are absolutely correct! The variants are the media!
I feel that there are people who have thrived throughout this "pandemic". How, they have stayed creative and stayed on course. Meanwhile, those who have hid behind doors, and believed that the system will save them have been in despair. I don't feel sorry. Each person must make a decision.
We have to get used to live with that virus situation. It will probably be there for the next 10 years.....