The small business optimism index in the study, which tracks economic conditions small businesses operate in, is 97.2 in the Golden State. That’s 1.3 points under the national small business optimism index of 98.5. The big picture: So far this year, California’s small businesses largely reported a drop in profits, a 12-point deficit compared to the rest of the country. There are also fewer reported job openings at small businesses throughout the state. In that time frame, 45% of small business owners said their businesses are in good health, while 11% said their businesses are in excellent health.