Daily Business Report — Sept. 10, 2010

County Business Sales Decline

Eighty-four small and mid-sized businesses changed hands in San Diego County in August, a nearly 9 percent decline from the 92 deals completed in July, according to the BizBen Small Business Index. The August sales represented a drop from the 102 businesses sold in August 2009. Leading August’s sales was the city of San Diego, which had 45 completed business sales. There were six closed deals each on El Cajon and Spring Valley businesses.

Business sales statewide during August were near the lowest level of the year, with a total of 1,047 completed small business transactions, according to the BizBen Index. That contrasts with 1,298 deals closed in July 2010.

The slowdown is partly the result of the late summer vacation season, when many small business owners and their advisers were taking time off from business, and they weren’t available to negotiate or complete transactions, according to Peter Siegel, founder and CEO of BizBen.com. 

“Among the critical factors needed for a robust level of small business sales is a sense of optimism among entrepreneurs who are deciding whether to move ahead with the sale or purchase of small and medium-sized businesses,” Siegel said. “Opinion polling and informal conversations with potential business buyers and owners of small businesses in San Diego County show there is little optimism at present, although that is likely to change with the improved activity we traditionally experience in the fourth quarter.”

The company also announced there currently are about 720 small businesses for sale in San Diego County. The listings are found at the San Diego County businesses for sale page: bizben.com/business-for-sale/san-diego-county-california-ca.php.

Small Business Bankruptcies Decline

Small business bankruptcies in San Diego County fell from 394 in the second quarter of last year to 344 in the second quarter of this year — a decline of 12.69 percent, according to a report by Equifax.

The Equifax study analyzed national bankruptcy trends by metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) over time, with a focus on the second quarters of 2009 and 2010. Results showed that 13 of the top 15 MSAs (including San Diego County) with the highest number of small business bankrupties in this year’s second quarter had a year-over-year decline from the same period of 2009. Los Angeles was the only California region to experience a rise in bankruptcy petitions.

“While California and several Western regions reported a deceleration in small business bankruptcies, the rate of decrease in these areas and others has been moderate enough to signal continued, underlying weaknesses in today’s business markets,” the Equifax report said.

Equifax also reported that bankruptcies in San Diego County so far this year amounted to 742. Bankruptcies for all of 2009 totaled 1,609.

Council Candidates to Appear at Luncheon

The Downtown San Diego Partnership will host a luncheon today featuring candidates for San Diego City Council Districts 6 and 8. It will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Presidential Ballroom of the U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, in Downtown San Diego. Candidates appearing from District 6 are Howard Wayne and Lorie Zapf. District 8 candidates appearing are David Alvarez and Felipe Hueso. Moderator will be Reo Carr, editor of the San Diego Business Journal.

Congressman Filner to Speak at Sept. 20 Luncheon

The San Diego World Affairs Council will host a Sept. 20 luncheon featuring Congressman Bob Filner speaking on recent border security legislation and the immigration issue. It will be held at the Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle North, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $40. Filner has represented California’s 51st Congressional District since 1992 and is current the chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. For more information, call (619) 325-8200.

Allen Matkins Adds Partner Ethna Piazza

Ethna M.S. Piazza has joined the law firm of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis as a partner in its Del Mar Heights office. Piazza has been in the legal field for more than 25 years. Prior to joining Allen Matkins, Piazza was a shareholder with Houston-based Chamberlain Hrdlicka. Prior to that, she was a partner in the Del Mar Heights office of Sheppard Mullin. She was also in-house counsel at Exxon, where she handled mergers and acquisition activities and natural resource damage issues. Piazza received her J.D. from the University of Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. She is admitted to practice in California and Texas.

Congratulations to the 40 Under 40 Award honorees — Class of 2010

San Diego Metropolitan Magazine

SCORE San DiegoSmall Business Workshops

• Sept. 11 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door)

• Sept. 14 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 15 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 16 – Good Governance for Non-Profits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 17 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha De Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $35 by 9/14, $45 thereafter; exhibitor rate: $85 by 9/14, $95 thereafter)

• Sept. 20 – Managing Grants & Contracts (for Non-Profits) – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 21 – Internet Marketing 301: Pay-Per-Click – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 22 – Marketing & Contracting w/ State & Local Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 23 – Internet Marketing 201 (SEO) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 24 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 25 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door)

• Sept. 27 – Internet Marketing 304: Tools/LinkedIn – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 28 – Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 29 – Restaurant 101 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 30 – Internet Marketing 101 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

To register, visit score-sandiego.org.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.