Southeast Los Angeles Small Business Survey

Thank you for your interest in participating in Alliance for a Better Community’s SELA Latino/a Small Business Survey!

In 2020, Latino/a small business owners were the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. As pandemic recovery continues to unfold, Alliance for a Better Community seeks policy opportunities that ensure the number of Latino/a business owners continue to increase while achieving financial sustainability and having access to public resources, financial literacy, education, mentoring, and networking.

ABC is conducting a short survey of small Latino/a business owners to identify gaps in investments and resources available to have a successful business in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) region. This survey will help elevate the current needs of Latino/a small business owners and will help identify advocacy priorities as we work to connect small businesses to already existing resources. The need for community inclusion in this process is vital.

Please help us by participating in this survey. If you have any questions, please contact Erika Cervantes, Policy and Advocacy Manager, at erika@afabc.org.

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* 1. I understand the information provided in this survey will not be shared alongside my name without my consent.

I understand the information provided in this survey will not be shared alongside my name without my consent.

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* 2. Contact Information

Full Name

Business Name

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 3. Do you have a physical location for your business?

Yes

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* 4. If yes, what is the zip code in which your business is located?

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* 5. If no, what is the zip code in which you live and direct most of your business?

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* 6. Select which type of business you own?

Retail (clothing & textiles, footwear, jewelry, books, etc.)

Restaurant and Bar (physical location)

Food and Beverage (food truck, catering, street vendor, etc.)

Service (cleaning service, personal trainer, childcare worker, plumber, hairstylist, mechanic, photography, videography, DJ, travel agent, notary, etc.)

Handmade items (Candles, soap, jewelry, art, stationary, etc.)

Transportation (trucking company, moving company, etc.)

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Please describe your business in 1-2 sentences.

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* 8. What was the main reason for starting your own business?

Wanted to be my own boss

I saw a need/opportunity in my community

I needed to supplement my income

Wanted to create a path toward generational wealth

Follow my passion

Inherited the business

Other (please specify)

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* 9. How long did you consider starting your business before filing for a business license?

Less than a month

1-3 months

4-6 months

7 months - 1 year

1-2 years

3-5 years

More than 5 years

I don't have my business license

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* 10. Where did you get the money for your initial investment in starting a business?

Loan from a financial institution

Loan from a family member/friend

Personal savings

Inherited wealth

Investment from another business

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Please indicate if your business is any of the following:

Women-owned

LGBTQ-owned

Black-owned

Latino/a-owned

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 12. What year did you start your business?

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* 13. What language(s) do you primarily use with your customers/clients?

English

Spanish

Other (please specify)

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* 14. What is the current number of employees (including yourself)?

Self-employed - only 1

2 - 5

6 - 10

11 - 25

26 - 50

Over 50

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* 15. In the past year, did this business have a change in the number of paid employees?

Yes, increased

Yes, decreased

Yes, both

No change

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* 16. In the past year, did this business have difficulties hiring new employees?

Yes

Not applicable

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* 17. If yes, please explain why. (For example: worker shortages, not enough time, not enough of a competitive salary, etc.)

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* 18. Where do you primarily conduct most of your business?

Brick and Mortar location/ physical establishment

Online website and/or social media

Various locations (street vending, small business pop-ups/markets)

Other (please specify)

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* 19. Overall, how has this business been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic?

Large negative effect

Moderate negative effect

Little or no effect

Moderate positive effect

Large positive effect

Not applicable

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* 20. Did you receive a loan or grant funds for your business from local, state or federal government (i.e. PPP loan)?

Yes

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* 21. On average, what were the total operating revenues/sales for your business in the last full year? (This amount should not include any financial assistance or loans.)

$0 - $500

$501 - $2,500

$2,501 - $5,000

$5,001 - $15,000

$15,001 - $25,000

$25,001 - $50, 000

$50,001 - $125,000

$125,001 - $200,000

$200,001 - $500,000

$500,001 or more

Don't know

Other (please specify)

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* 22. Comparing now to a year ago, how have prices for goods and services changed for your business?

Large increase in prices

Moderate increase in prices

Little or no change in prices

Moderate decrease in prices

Large decrease in prices

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* 23. Have you considered doing any of the following in the next year? (please mark all that apply)

Obtain financial assistance or additional capitol (through public or private source)

Identify a new supply chain option

Develop online sales or websites

Increase marketing for sales or hires

Identify and hire new employees

Identify potential markets for exporting goods or services

Take a course or class that would benefit your business

Permanently close your business

Other (please specify)

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* 24. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business? (Please mark all that apply.)

Inability/struggle to access finance/loans

Language barrier

Technology barrier

Understanding of legal requirements

Discrimination/ bias

Unaware of available supports for entrepreneurs

Finding time

Upfront costs

Other (please specify)

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* 25. Are you aware of any local resources for small businesses provided by your local City?

Yes

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* 26. If you have used resources provided by your local City, what were they?

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* 27. Were the services helpful?

Yes

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* 28. What are some of the largest challenges you currently face in managing your business?

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* 29. What resources would you find the most helpful today to help make your business grow and be successful?

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* 30. Do you have broadband/internet access for your business?

Yes

No, but I want/need it

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* 31. If you do have broadband/internet access, do you also provide it to your customers? (For brick and mortar businesses).

Yes

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* 32. If you do have broadband/internet access for your business, please rate the quality of the service.

Excellent

Above Average

Average

Below Average

Very Poor

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* 33. If you do have broadband/internet access for your business, roughly how much do you spend each month?

$50 or less

$51- $99

$100 - $149

$150 - $199

$200 - $299

$300 or more

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* 34. If you do not have broadband/internet access for your business, please indicate why:

I do not need internet access to manage my business

It's too expensive and I cannot afford it

There is no reliable provider in my community

Other (please specify)

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* 35. Overall, how would you rate your digital literacy, or ability to understand and implement new technologies for your business?

I am not comfortable using technology and need assistance

I am somewhat comfortable using technology and need some assistance

I am comfortable using technology, and do not need assistance

I do not use technology for my business

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* 36. Do you have a website for your business?

Yes

Yes, but I could use help in making it better

No, but I would like to have a website for my business

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* 37. If you do not have a website for your business, why not?

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* 38. Do you use social media for your business? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, etc.)

Yes

Yes, but I could use help in making it better

No, but I would like to learn how to use social media for my business

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* 39. If you do not use social media for your business, why not?

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* 40. Please indicate the ways in which you communicate with your customers/clients.

My business website

Chat tool on website

Social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)

Text message

Phone calls

In-person

Newsletter

Other (please specify)

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* 41. How likely are you to take a digital training for your business?

Very likely

Likely

Neither likely nor unlikely

Unlikely

Very unlikely

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* 42. If given the opportunity, what digital training courses would you find the most helpful for your business?

Learning about digital adverstising

Implementing human resources software

Implementing cybersecurity

Accounting and financial tools

Customer relations management tools

Using third party platforms (Etsy, Amazon, etc.)

Creating a company website

Marketing

How to use social media

Other (please specify)

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* 43. What is the top reason that would influence your decision to take a digital training course?

Low cost or free

Relevant subject matter

Quality of the training

Language

Flexible scheduling options

Length of training

Other (please specify)

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* 44. In the next few months, ABC will be holding listening sessions with small Latino/a business owners to identify gaps in investments and resources available to have a successful business in LA County. These listening sessions will help elevate the current needs of Latino/a small business owners, and will help identify ABC’s advocacy priorities as we work to connect small businesses to already existing resources. Would you be interested in participating in our upcoming listening sessions?

Yes

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* 45. May we reach out to you for a media interview? Interviews may be testimonies, newspaper, radio, or television news. Your identity can be anonymous.

Yes