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The Greenwood Plan (GP) Survey of Black Entrepreneurs -
Your response will help GP identify the challenges of Black entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh region so that we can provide solutions.
Demographic/Background Information
1.
What is your race?
Black
White
Asian
American Indian or Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian or the Pacific Islander
Other (please specify)
2.
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Other (please specify)
3.
What is your age?
Under 13 years old
14-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80-89
90-99
100 +
4.
Are you the first person in your family to own a business?
Yes
No
5.
Did anyone in your family from a previous generation, own a business before you?
Yes
No
6.
If another family member from a previous generation owned a business before you, check all that apply.
Mother
Father
Sister
Brother
Grandmother
Grandfather
Aunt
Uncle
Cousin
7.
If another family member owned a business before you started your business, were they helpful to you with starting your business?
Yes
No
Please provide additional details.
8.
Which industry is your business in?
Retail Industry
The Lodging Industry
Artificial Intelligence Industry
Entertainment & Leisure Industry
Education Industry
Health and Wellness Industry
Telecommunications Industry
Utilities Industry
Mining Industry
Finance & Insurance Industry
Information Technology Industry
Transportation & Logistics Industry
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Industry
Construction Industry
Media & Entertainment Industry
Legal Industry
Government & Public Administration Industry
Real Estate & Property Management Industry
Manufacturing Industry
Wholesale & Distribution Industry
E-commerce & Online Retail Industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Industry
Management of Companies and Enterprises Industry
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services Industry
Accommodation and Food Services Industry
Arts
Fashion
Fashion Manufacturing
Additional information
9.
What is your business structure?
Sole proprietorship
Partnership
C-Corporation
S-Corporation
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Non-profit organization
10.
Which stage best describes your business?
Idea (beginning)
Planning (adding details to the idea)
Established (putting the plan to action)
Scaling (a secured customer base and consistent profit)
Hyper-growth (consistent increase in sales, profits and your organization is expanding)
Provide additional details
11.
How many years have you owned your business?
Less than 1 year
1 - 3 years
3 1/2 - 5 years
6 - 8 years
8 1/2 - 10 years
11 - 15 years
16 - 20 years
21 - 25 years
26 - 30 years
31 - 35 years
36 - 40 years
41 + years
Additional explanation
Business ownership, funding & sustainability
12.
Is this business your primary source of income, or a side business?
Primary Source of Income
Side Business
Other (please specify)
13.
How many businesses do you currently own or operate?
One
Two
Three
Four +
14.
How is your business funded?
Self-funded
Revenue-supported
Debt-financed
Grants
Other (please specify)
15.
Is the business currently self-sustaining, or do you rely on other income sources to support it?
Self-sustaining
Rely on other income sources to support it
Other (please specify)
16.
What is your annual revenue?
$50,0000 and less
$51,000-$99,000
$100,000-$249,000
$250,000-$499,000
$500,000-$999,000
$1,000,000-$4,999,000
$5,000,000-$9,999,000
$10,000,000-$19,999,000
$20,000,000 +
17.
Do you own or rent your place of residence?
Own
Rent
Business location & service reach
18.
Do you live in the City of Pittsburgh or do you live outside of the city?
I live in the City of Pittsburgh
I live outside of the City of Pittsburgh
19.
If you live in the City of Pittsburgh, which section of the city do you live in?
North
South
East
West
Downtown
Provide additional details
20.
If you live outside of the City of Pittsburgh which area do you reside in?
Penn Hills
Monroeville
Plum Borough
Murrysville
South Hills
North Hills
West Hills
Armstrong County
Beaver County
Butler County
Washington County
Westmoreland County
Other (please specify)
21.
Does your business operate in one location, or across multiple locations/service areas?
Operates in one location
Across multiple locations/service areas
Other (please specify)
22.
Do you primarily operate your business from:
A home-based office/studio
A rented/leased commercial space
A co-working/shared space
A business location you own outright
Other (please specify)
23.
If you operate from a business location outside of your home, do you:
Pay rent/lease
Pay a mortgage
Own the space outright (no debt)
Other (please specify)
24.
What is your biggest challenge related to your business location?
cost
accessibility
expansion
zoning
Other (please specify)
25.
Is your business located in the city of Pittsburgh?
Yes
No
Comment
26.
If your business is in the city, where is it located?
North
South
East
West
Downtown
Provide additional details
27.
Do most of your customers come from the city of Pittsburgh?
Yes
No
Provide additional details
28.
If your business is not currently located in the city, are you interested in moving your business to the city?
Yes
No
Comment
29.
If your business is not currently in the city and you want to move it to the city, do you know which part of the city you want to move to?
North
South
East
West
Downtown
Comment
Organizational structure & contractors
30.
Do you have employees?
Yes
No
31.
If you have employees, how many employees do you have?
1-4 Employees
5-9 Employees
10-19 Employees
15-19 Employees
20-49 Employees
50-99 Employees
100 employees +
32.
If you have employees, do most of them live in the city?
Yes
No
I'm not sure
33.
Do you have contractors?
Yes
No
34.
If you have contractors, how many do you have?
Challenges & Needed Support
35.
Have you ever responded to a survey that focuses on the challenges of Black business owners in the City of Pittsburgh?
Yes
No
Provide more details
36.
Has anyone ever interviewed you about the challenges of Black business owners in the City of Pittsburgh?
Yes
No
Provide additional details
37.
Growing up, did you see Black business owners in your neighborhood?
Yes
No
Additional comments
38.
What are some of the most difficult challenges of being a Black entrepreneur in the city of Pittsburgh?
Lack of knowledge about how to effectively start a business
Challenges managing the business
Lack of startup capital for the business
Lack of skilled employees
Lack of available business storefront locations
Lack of affordable storefront locations
Laws and policies that make it difficult to effectively run your business
Crime that prevents you from starting a business in the neighborhood of your choice
Unable to attract your target customers
Too much competition from similar businesses in close proximity
Unable to get your business insurance
Comment
39.
What type of support from government agencies and or the city of Pittsburgh can help you be a successful entrepreneur?
Assistance with acquiring low interest loans
Assistance with having available commercial space
Assistance with being able to acquire and own commercial space for the business
Grants for improving commercial space
Assistance with having parking available for customers
Comment
40.
What type of support would you like from neighborhood organizations and city of Pittsburgh residents that can help you be a successful entrepreneur?
Access to employees
Access to Investors
Organizations that can help me connect with customers and clients
Comment
41.
Where do you see your business in 5 years? (select all that apply)
Expanding to additional locations
Increasing staff/ employees
Growing revenue/ profit
Diversifying products or services
Transitioning ownership/ selling the business
Maintaining current size and operations
Other (please specify)
42.
What types of resources, training, or technical assistance would be most helpful for your business? (select all that apply)
Marketing & branding
Social media strategy
Accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management
Access to funding or capital
Legal or regulatory compliance
Hiring, HR, or team management
Technology or software tools
Production, manufacturing, or operational support
Other (please specify)
43.
How hopeful are you about the future of your business?
Very hopeful
Somewhat hopeful
Neutral
Not very hopeful
Not hopeful at all
44.
Please describe any specific challenges or pain points you currently face where additional support or training would help.
45.
Do you have a business mentor?
Yes
No
46.
If you have a business mentor, are they helpful?
Yes
No
Please provide additional details.
47.
If you do not have a business mentor, would you like to have a business mentor?
Yes
No
48.
Would you serve as a mentor to a business owner who is requesting business mentorship?
Yes
No
Please provide additional details.
Send me a copy of my responses via email