Breaking down the business climate in Bucks County

Based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, we are excited for the opportunities and challenges that await the businesses and organizations that also call this place home. Where your business is located is important, and we like to learn about the where our clients and their customers are geographically while planning.

We think our own backyard is a great place to illustrate the business climate and what it means for businesses local to us. Let’s briefly cover where Bucks county is, what it has to offer, and assess its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). For best results, try this for your town, county, or sales region.

Where is Bucks County?

Bucks County is located along the Delaware River in southeastern Pennsylvania. It borders the urban city-county of Philadelphia to the south, suburban Montgomery County to the west, the Lehigh Valley to the north, and New Jersey to the east.

Running through the county are multiple regional rail lines into Philadelphia, as well as major routes 202, 295 and 1 which cross the Delaware River. The main north-south route is 611, and the parallel route 309 serves the western parts of the county. Along all these routes form a patchwork of well-connected communities. The county varies greatly in development, from the urban south to the rural north. In many ways, it brings the best of both for the businesses that call this area home.

What is SWOT?

We’ll use SWOT to understand the business climate a little better. A SWOT analysis (SWOT an acronym for “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats”) helps identify the factors that can affect the success of a business or project. Broadly speaking, strengths and opportunities are internal and external positive factors, respectively. Conversely, weaknesses and threats are internal and external negative factors. We discuss more in detail how to use this technique on your website here.

An effective SWOT Analysis is just the first step in forming a strategy. The next step is to leverage strengths, overcome weaknesses, take advantage of opportunities, and mitigate threats. It is often used as a starting point for strategic planning and decision-making.

Analysis of Bucks Business Environment

In terms of business, Bucks County has a diverse economy, with a strong presence in healthcare, finance, education, and tourism. Bucks County also has a thriving small business community, with a number of local shops, restaurants, and professional services firms. The county government and local economic development organizations offer a range of resources and support to help businesses grow and thrive. If your business isn’t in Bucks County, how is your county similar? Do you also see any of these trends where you are?

Strengths:

• Strategic location between Philadelphia and New York City, amplified by the transportation infrastructure to these regions. Both Philadelphia and New York City have major ports, highways, and international airports allowing nationwide and global access to markets and vendors.
• Bucks County excels in quality of life with robust healthcare, education, and recreational facilities. Any business catering to these industries will find abundant opportunities here, but also more competition as we’ll discuss.
• Diverse industry mix, including the aforementioned healthcare, education, and tourism. Also in the mix is manufacturing. This mix provides opportunities for targeted marketing and niche offerings. These industries are complemented by a skilled labor pool ready to work for your business.
• Access to major universities and research institutions for collaboration and innovation both within and in neighboring, commutable counties.
• Large population of potential customers in the area, with a mix of urban and suburban communities that can support small businesses with local reach. You can drive from the edge of Philadelphia to farmland to wilderness in under an hour.

Weaknesses:

• High cost of living and doing business compared to other regions in Pennsylvania. However it’s worth noting that Bucks County is comparable to its neighbors.
• Traffic congestion, which is a major issue across the county. There are fewer convenient bypasses when a major route closes, sending commuters into the country back roads.
• Limited availability of affordable commercial real estate, particularly in prime locations near the major transportation routes. This effectively caps the number of skilled employees who prefer to live near industry hubs that align with their skillset.
• High competition in certain industries, such as retail and hospitality, may make it difficult to stand out and attract customers. Limited marketing budgets for small businesses may make it challenging to reach potential customers through traditional advertising channels.
• Seasonal fluctuations in tourism may impact business for some industries, such as restaurants and hotels. This is a limited weakness compared to, say, seasonality in beach towns as Bucks County has many year-round events and attractions.

Opportunities:

• Growing demand for healthcare services and related industries in the Philadelphia area and nationwide. This goes beyond healthcare directly, as educational institutions, related services, and vendor products/services can see opportunities for growth.
• Expansion of regional transportation infrastructure, such as the recently completed I95 eastern bypass.
• Increase in remote work and telecommuting. This will provide opportunities for talent attraction and retention, as well as for businesses that cater to locals who previously commuted outside the area during work hours. Businesses engaged in residential services (such as construction, landscaping, or interior improvements) or sell home-office goods (such as snacks, furniture, and leisure attire suitable for video calls) can benefit from this shift to remote and hybrid work in the area.
• Continued growth in the tourism (especially eco-tourism) and hospitality industry, particularly for the many historic and cultural attractions across the county.
• Growing interest in local and sustainable products may provide opportunities for small businesses to differentiate themselves and attract customers.

Threats:

• The local infrastructure enables local companies to export their goods to the greater area with greater ease, but it also allows competitors to more easily move in. This is easily the most potent threat unique to Bucks County, which borders urbanized areas on all sides.
• Ongoing challenges related to workforce development and talent retention can still be seen across industries, with lingering labor shortages since the start of the pandemic.
• Potential for changes in state and federal regulations and policies affecting business operations and growth. While this is a perennial risk, the regulatory landscape for most industries has grown more complex at a faster rate than was seen even a few years ago.
• Changes in consumer preferences or trends may make it difficult to stay relevant and appeal to potential customers. Social media has made reaching more people easier than ever, but conversely allows competitors similar ease in influencing larger trends that can negatively impact local business.

In Summary

Overall, Bucks County offers a favorable business climate. The county boasts a skilled workforce, access to major markets, and a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and established businesses alike. We hope you found here some useful ways to frame the big-picture business environment wherever you do business, even if you’re not in the area.