Chamblee
Review the Business Climate
How it's done
The business climate is the general economic environment that local businesses operate in. Reviewing and understanding the local business climate provides valuable insights about the economy, costs, risks, and incentives that may impact the success of your business. This activity will guide you to better understand the business climate in Chamblee and help you answer the following fundamental questions.
What is the business climate in Chamblee?
We have compiled the most important aspects of Chamblee’s business climate as an interactive dashboard below. This dashboard provides valuable economic, resident, household, dwelling and development indicators that may influence the success of your business.
What costs and assistance should I know about?
Whether you have a new or existing business it is critical to be aware of costs, incentives and grants that impact your business. This dashboard provides you with a snapshot of the major costs of conducting business in Chamblee and assistance available to Chamblee businesses.
All commercial and residential businesses located within the City of Chamblee must apply for an annual occupational tax certificate. The fee for this license is based upon receipts, number of employees, and a flat tax. Please visit the City of Chamblee’s website for more information.
The Planning and Development Department's mission is to help guide citizens and developers through the processes of development established by the Mayor and City Council. The functions of the Planning and Development Department include administration of zoning and development regulations, permitting and inspections, and long-range community planning, in an effort to promote economic prosperity and neighborhood stability.
For more detailed information click here.
Average Annual Wages 2018
|
NAICS Code |
DeKalb County |
Georgia |
U.S. TOTAL |
|
11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting |
--- |
$35,992 |
$35,841 |
|
21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction |
--- |
69,959 |
104,257 |
|
22 Utilities |
117,511 |
100,659 |
109,957 |
|
23 Construction |
67,671 |
61,018 |
62,727 |
|
31-33 Manufacturing |
57,275 |
59,168 |
68,525 |
|
42 Wholesale trade |
83,984 |
76,559 |
77,870 |
|
44-45 Retail trade |
34,601 |
31,092 |
32,362 |
|
48-49 Transportation and warehousing |
50,184 |
59,955 |
53,197 |
|
51 Information |
98,737 |
96,613 |
113,781 |
|
52 Finance and insurance |
76,546 |
94,222 |
109,231 |
|
53 Real estate and rental and leasing |
56,734 |
60,958 |
59,129 |
|
54 Professional and technical services |
81,365 |
87,204 |
97,113 |
|
55 Management of companies and enterprises |
109,618 |
118,695 |
122,843 |
|
56 Administrative and waste services |
40,572 |
39,262 |
40,985 |
|
61 Educational services |
92,129 |
53,888 |
51,250 |
|
62 Health care and social assistance |
52,773 |
51,782 |
50,326 |
|
71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation |
23,264 |
35,030 |
38,887 |
|
72 Accommodation and food services |
20,436 |
18,818 |
21,559 |
|
81 Other services, except public administration |
38,845 |
36,377 |
38,464 |
|
99 Unclassified |
60,288 |
66,576 |
57,227 |
Source:
Private, NAICS Sectors, 2018 Annual Averages, All establishment sizes
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages - Bureau of Labor Statistics
The table below provides the living wage requirements in DeKalb County, GA. The data is sourced from the Living Wage Calculator created by Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier at MIT. It is a market-based approach that draws upon geographically specific expenditure data related to a family’s likely minimum food, childcare, health insurance, housing, transportation, and other necessities (e.g. clothing, personal care items, etc.) costs.
The living wage draws on these cost elements and the rough effects of income and payroll taxes to determine the minimum employment earnings necessary to meet a family’s basic needs while also maintaining self-sufficiency.
|
Annual Expenses |
1 Adult |
1 Adult 1 Child |
2 Adults 1 Child |
|
Food |
$2,994 |
$4,413 |
$6,832 |
|
Child Care |
$0 |
$5,895 |
$5,895 |
|
Medical |
$2,392 |
$7,662 |
$7,318 |
|
Housing |
$10,476 |
$12,372 |
$12,372 |
|
Transportation |
$4,623 |
$8,424 |
$9,905 |
|
Other |
$2,824 |
$4,697 |
$5,099 |
|
Required annual income after taxes |
$23,308 |
$43,462 |
$47,421 |
|
Annual taxes |
$4,368 |
$8,394 |
$9,184 |
|
Required annual income before taxes |
$27,676 |
$51,856 |
$56,605 |
Source:
2019 Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
DeKalb County, GA
The Chamblee Downtown Development Authority oversees tax abatements within the downtown district and are considered on a case by case basis. They also oversee Chamblee’s Façade Grant program, which can be used to offset the cost of renovations for a building’s façade located within the downtown district.
Additionally, city staff works with Decide DeKalb, our county partner, and Georgia Department of Economic Development, our state partner, to identify opportunities for businesses wishing to locate to Chamblee. Reach out to Economic Development staff for more information.
In 2019, 268 new businesses opened adding more than 900 new jobs in the City of Chamblee. The city continues to grow with new businesses coming in every day and existing businesses expanding. Chamblee boasts over 2,000 businesses within 7 square miles, with the majority of them being small, locally-owned businesses. Chamblee’s principal employers include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Internal Revenue Service, the Jim Ellis family of car dealerships, and Eckardt Electric.
How do I use this information?
Having access to business climate statistics and information is one thing, but it's quite another to use data effectively and in a way that will benefit your business. This next section will help you do just that. Learn how to use this information to make better business decisions.
Monitor the local business climate
On-going assessment of the business climate is an essential part of operating a competitive business. In any business climate, there are numerous factors outside your control that will impact your business, both positively and negatively. The health of the economy impacts all businesses, but small businesses usually feel the effect of economic changes faster than big businesses. Improvements in the economy typically provide a rapid increase in new opportunities for small businesses, while an economic downturn can have a significant and prolonged negative impact.
Unfortunately, you can’t influence the economy, but you can monitor the business climate indicators provided above and then take the necessary actions to minimize risks to your business. Staying up to date with the business climate can also help you identify new opportunities that your business can take advantage of.
Know your costs
All industries are unique and incur different types of costs when starting or operating. Understanding these costs is essential when it comes to setting prices, budgeting and planning for growth or downturns. We’ve provided some of the local costs associated with taxes, development and labor that often get overlooked by businesses. There may be other municipal and state costs that apply to your business so we encourage you to contact us to find out more.
Where can I learn more about the business climate?
While we are providing you with a range of valuable information about the business climate, the fact is that there's much more available. In this section we provide you with links to other websites that will supplement our information and help to keep your finger on the pulse.
There may also be other municipal and state costs that apply to your business so we encourage you to contact us to find out more.
| Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) |
| Georgia Chamber of Commerce |
| Bureau of Economic Analysis – US Department of Commerce |
| Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) |
