Business Impact of COVID-19 Structural 
Survey 
Sign out  
You are completing this survey for CSO (Central Statistics 
Office 
This survey asks you about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your 
business in 2020. By filling in the survey, you will be helping the CSO to 
produce statistics on the effects of the crisis. The results will help to identify 
key issues for business and for policy-makers. 
The questionnaire asks for information on the following topics: 
1 The trading activity of your business in 2020. 
2 The performance of the business. 
3 Business operations and resilience. 
4 Business expectations for 2021. 
Thank you for taking the time to answer this survey. 
 
Contact details 
If you have any queries, please contact: 
eMail: business.covid@cso.ie 
Website: www.cso.ie 
 
Website Privacy StatementShow 
Data Protection Transparency StatementShow 
Data Confidentiality 
All information supplied to the CSO is treated as strictly confidential in 
accordance with National and EU Legislation. 
The information will be used for statistical purposes only and will not be 
divulged to any other Government Department or body. 
Section 1 - Trading Activity in 2020 
This section asks for information on the trading activity of the business in 
2020. 
 
Section 1 - Trading Activity 
This section asks for information on the trading activity of the business in 
2020. 
 
1.1 Did your business close at any point in 2020 due to 
COVID-19? 
 
Business closed 
Yes  
No (go to Section 2) 
 
1.2 How many times did your business close in 2020 due to 
COVID-19? 
 
Business closed 
Once, temporarily 
Once, permanently (end survey) 
More than once, each time temporarily 
More than once, with the last time being permanent (end survey) 
(please specific how many times below) 
More than once 
  
 
 
 
 
1.3 How many weeks in total did your business close 
temporarily during 2020 due to COVID-19? 
 
Number of weeks ceased 
Weeks  
  
 
1.4 Which of the following reasons led to your business 
closing temporarily? 
 
Reasons for closure - select all that apply 
Positive COVID-19 case/s in the workplace 
Government restrictions on trading 
Reduced demand because of COVID-19  
Insufficient cashflow  
Other  
Specify below 
Other
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 2 - Business Performance 
This section asks for information relating to 2020, on: 
- your business's turnover 
- your business's operating costs 
- your business’s investment 
  
 
2.1 What is your best estimate of total turnover generated by your 
business in: 
Please provide in Euro the Turnover generated. You may round to the 
nearest thousand (i.e. €3,211 = 3,000) 
 (exclude invoiced VAT, VRT and subsidies received, sales of fixed 
assets) 
2019 Turnover 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
2020 Turnover 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
 
2.2 How did your business’s turnover for 2020 compare with what 
you would otherwise have normally expected for the year (without 
COVID-19)? 
Note: Normal expectation refers to the expected turnover performance 
during standard business activities. 
75-100% less than normal expectation 
50-74% less than normal expectation 
25-49% less than normal expectation 
10-24% less than normal expectation 
At or close to normal expectation 
10-24% more than normal expectation 
25-49% more than normal expectation 
50-74% more than normal expectation 
Upwards of 75% more than normal expectation 
 
 
2.3 What is your best estimate of your business’s total variable 
costs in: 
Please provide in Euro. You may round to the nearest thousand (i.e. 
€3,211 = 3,000) 
Include: Purchases of materials and services, purchases of goods and 
services for resale, trading stocks, excise duty, sales and marketing, 
energy and fuel, Wages 
Exclude: Deductible VAT 
2019 Variable costs 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
2020 Variable costs 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
 
2.4 What is your best estimate of your business’s total fixed costs 
in: 
Please provide in Euro. You may round to the nearest thousand (i.e. 
€3,211 = 3,000) 
Include: Commercial rent, insurance, interest paid on capital, salaries 
etc. 
2019 Fixed costs 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
2020 Fixed costs 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
 
2.5 What is your best estimate of your business’s spend on capital 
stock and investments in: 
Please provide in Euro. You may round to the nearest thousand (i.e. 
€3,211 = 3,000) 
Include: Tangible and Intangible assets such as land, building & 
construction, machinery & other equipment, software, intellectual 
property etc. 
2019 Investment spend 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
2020 Investment spend 
((in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
 
2.6 What is your best estimate of your business’s expenditure in 
2020 on: 
Please provide in Euro. You may round to the nearest thousand (i.e. 
€3,211 = 3,000) 
 
Measures to comply with COVID-19 requirements for trading 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
  
   
Measures to develop new products/processes to adapt to COVID-19 
(in € rounded to the nearest thousand i.e. €3,211 entered as 3000) 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 – Business Operations and resilience 
This section asks for information on business operations and resilience 
during the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions in 2020.  
3.1 Has your business availed of Government’s COVID-19 related 
supports in 2020? 
Government support 
Yes 
No 
Don’t know 
If yes, please specify which supports 
 
 
3.2 Has the enterprise taken any of the following steps in 2020 as a 
result of COVID-19? 
Steps taken - select all that apply 
Increased borrowing (go to Q3.3) 
Renegotiated commercial rents  
Developed new products 
Renegotiated terms of the supply chain  
Developed online presence  
Stared selling to new markets 
Increased operating hours 
No steps taken as a result of COVID-19 
Other  
Specify below 

Other
 
 
3.3 Has your business obtained additional finance during the 
COVID-19 pandemic to: 
Pay down overdrafts 
 
Pay on-going costs in absence of expected cashflow 
Other  
Specify below 
Other
 
 
 
3.4 What percentage of staff at the end of 2020 were: 
Staff working 
Partially remote working (up to 3 days)  
 
 % 
Completely remote working 
 
 
 
 % 
Not remote working 
 
 
 
 
 % (Skip 3.5 if 100) 
 
3.5 For staff who started remote working in 2020, has productivity: 
Productivity 
Increased 
Decreased 
Remained the same 
 
 
3.6 Do you see remote working as a permanent part of the 
enterprise’s work practices post COVID-19? 
Remote working permanent 
Yes 

No 
Don’t know 
 
 
Section 4 – Business expectations for 2021 
This section asks for information on business expectations, concerns 
and uncertainties in 2021. 
 
4.1 Are you confident that the enterprise has the financial 
resources to continue operating through the COVID-19 crisis as 
and from 1 February 2021? 
Confidence 
Yes, up to 1 month 
Yes, up to 3 months 
Yes, up to 6 months 
Yes, longer than 6 months 
Not confident 
Don’t know 
 
 
4.2 How do you expect the impact of COVID-19 to affect your 
business’s demand for credit in 2021? 
Demand for credit 
Require less credit 
No significant impact 
Require more credit and expect it to be available 
Require more credit and expect it will not be available  
Don’t know 
 
4.3 Will the business take any of the following steps in 2021 to 
mitigate the uncertainty of COVID-19? 
Reduce workforce 

Renegotiate commercial rents  
Renegotiate contracts up the supply chain 
Pause or cancel investment plans 
Develop new products 
Increase digitalisation  
Start selling/buying in new markets 
No steps taken 
Other  
Specify below 
Other
  
 
 
4.4 What impact do you expect BREXIT to have on your business in 
2021? 
BREXIT impact 
Positive (route 4.5) 
Negative (route 4.5) 
None (route 4.6) 
Not applicable (route 4.6) 
 
 
4.5 What is the biggest BREXIT related concern for your business 
in 2021? 
 
BREXIT 
Currency volatility 
Increase in prices 
Difficulty in transporting goods to/from the UK 
Decline in business from UK customers 
Regulatory divergence 
Reduced investment from UK 
Other 
Specify below 
Other
  
 
Don’t know 
 
 
4.6 Which of the following steps has your business taken in 
preparation for BREXIT? 
Steps taken - select all that apply 
Availed of Government BREXIT related financial support 
Taken steps to reduce exposure to currency volatility 
Increased preparedness for new custom procedures and duties  
Sought new suppliers outside the UK 
Changed route for transporting goods 
Started selling/buying in new markets 
No steps taken 
Other  
Specify below 
Other
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business Impact of COVID-19 Structural 
Survey 
Section  RETAIL 
This section asks specific questions for the Retail Sector. 
 
5.1 Please state if your business had any of the following 
before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020?  
Select all that apply 
Website for information / advertising 
Website that enables online purchases 
Click and collect 
Social media presence e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter 
 Phone in orders and collect or deliver  
 
 eWallet 
Other  Please state _______________________- 
 
None of the above (if this is ticked then none above should be allowed 
to be ticked) 
 
 
5.2 Which of the following does your business now have 
since COVID-19 in March 2020? 
Select all that apply 
Website for information / advertising 
Website that enables online purchases 
Click and collect 

Social media presence eg Instagram, Facebook, Twitter 
 
Phone and either collect or deliver orders 
 eWallet 
 Other   please specify ______________ 
None of the above (if this is ticked then none above should be allowed 
to be ticked) 
 
 
5.3 What is your best estimate of the % of your turnover 
from online sales? Online sales = the ordering and payment occurred 
online. (If your online sales are not booked through Ireland please put in 0 
below.) 
2019 
 
% (If you do not have online sales please put in 0) 
2020 
 
 % (If you do not have online sales please put in 0) 
 
 
5.4 Will you invest in improving your ability to provide 
online shopping in 2021? 
Yes 
 
No 
 
 
Do not know 
 
 
 
 
 

5.5 Which month generated the highest turnover in  
2019?  Total       
  Drop down menu from Jan to Dec 
2020?  Total     
 Drop down menu from Jan to Dec 
2019?   Online      
  Drop down menu from Jan to Dec or N/A 
2020?   Online      
 Drop down menu from Jan to Dec or N/A 
 
 
5.6 Did you find it difficult to hire seasonal staff during 
Christmas 2020? 
 
o Yes but similar to 2019 
o Yes more difficult than in 2019 
o No easier than previous years 
o No did not hire seasonal staff in 2020 (did previous years) 
o Not applicable (do not hire Seasonal staff for Christmas) 
 
 
5.7a What product generated the most turnover? 
2019  
 
 
2020   
 
 
 
5.7b Is there any product that was in higher demand in 
2020 due to COVID-19? 
 Yes 
 
 No 
If yes  Please specify _______________________- 
 
 

5.8a Does your business sell alcohol? 
o Yes 
o No (end survey) 
 
5.8b How has sales of alcohol in your business changed in 
2020? 
Sales of alcohol 
Increased (to 5.8c) 
Decreased (to 5.8d) 
No change (end survey) 
 
5.8c What was the percentage increase in alcohol sales? 
  
% 
 
5.8d What was the percentage decrease in alcohol sales? 
  
% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Business Impact of COVID-19 Structural 
Survey 
 
Sign out  
Section 5 – Tourism 
This section asks for information related to the COVID-19 impact on 
tourism. 
 
5.1 How much of your business relies on tourism? 
Tourism 
Mainly tourism (Go to 5.2a) 
Partially tourism (Go to 5.2b) 
Some tourism (Go to 5.2b) 
No tourism (Go to 5.8) 
 
5.2a Does your business open year-round usually? 
Yes  
No 
 
5.2b Does the tourist aspect of your business open year-round 
usually? 
Yes  
No 
 
5.3 Did you find it difficult to hire seasonal staff during summer 
2020? 
 
Seasonal staff 
Yes, but similar to 2019  
Yes, more difficult than in 2019 
No, easier than previous years 
No, did not hire seasonal staff in 2020 but did in previous years 
Not applicable (do not hire seasonal staff for summer) 
5.4 In 2019, which type of customer did your enterprise cater to 
most? 
Main customer 2019 
 
Domestic business traveller 
  % 
International business traveller 
  % 
Domestic tourist 
  % 
International tourist 
  % 
Local customers 
  % 
Other (please specify) 
  % 
Other
  
 
5.5 In 2020, which type of customer did your enterprise cater to 
most? 
Main customer 2020 
 
Domestic business traveller 
  % 
International business traveller 
  % 
Domestic tourist 
  % 
International tourist 
  % 
Local customers 
  % 
Other (please specify) 
  % 
Other
  

 
 
 
5.6 Which month generated the highest turnover in? 
2019?  Total       
  Drop down menu from Jan to Dec 
2020?  Total     
 Drop down menu from Jan to Dec 
 
5.7a Does your business offer bed spaces / accommodation? 
Note: A bed space a suitable sleeping area for one person. A single 
bedroom provides one bed space and a double or twin provides two bed 
spaces. 
Bed spaces 
Yes 
No (Go to 5.8) 
 
 
5.7b How many bed spaces could your business offer in one night 
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic? 
Bed Spaces       
  
   
 
5.7c How many bed spaces could your business offer in one night 
with COVID-19 restrictions in place? 
Bed Spaces with COVID-19 restrictions 
 
   
 
5.7d What was your average occupancy rate in: 
Note: Occupancy rate should be based total bed spaces 
Occupancy rate 

2019 
  % 
2020 
  % 
 
5.8a Does your business offer food or drink that is ready for 
consumption? 
Food or drink 
Yes 
No (Go to 5.9) 
 
 
5.8b Approximately what proportion of your business’ turnover in 
2019 came from: 
Sit-down service - food 
  % 
Takeaway - food 
  % 
Alcohol sales 
  % 
 
5.8b Approximately what proportion of your business’ turnover in 
2020 came from: 
Sit-down service - food 
  % 
Takeaway - food 
  % 
Alcohol sales 

  % 
 
 
5.9 Do you have any more comments to make on how the COVID-19 
pandemic is affecting your business: 
   
 
 
 
 

Section 6 - Contact Details 
Thank you for participating in this survey. 
On the next page you will be asked to provide your contact details in case 
we need to get back to you about this survey. 
Contact Details 
 
Please note: Queries or future surveys from the CSO may be directed to the email or 
phone number provided by you. 
Name  
  
Position   
  
Phone  
  
Email