Minority Business Access to Capital Survey

Access to capital is a significant and systemic barrier for minority owned businesses here in Syracuse and across the country, affecting their ability to startup, sustain, grow and thrive. The Economic Inclusion team at CenterState CEO has created this survey to collect qualitative and quantitative data that lead to a better understanding of the challenges minority business owners face locally. We want to hear more from Syracuse's minority business community about their experiences in seeking capital, their funding needs and perspectives so we can use better data to inform approaches to addressing the challenge at hand. This form is not an application for funding or a program. The results will be used as a foundation to design better solutions and increase access to capital. Your efforts to provide accurate data and best approximations are appreciated.

This survey is anonymous for those who wish to remain anonymous. We will also provide a place for you to leave contact information if you are willing to have additional follow up conversations at later stages of our research, and/or you want to be notified about how the survey informs efforts to create better access to capital.

Your information and responses will be managed responsibly. All data shared outside of our small research team will be anonymous and aggregated with other responses to present a picture of the needs of Syracuse-area minority owned businesses. Summary-level data will be shared with partners in the business ecosystem who can further inform solutions. If you have questions contact Kira Crawford via email at kcrawford@centerstateceo.com

About Your Business

Please tell us a little about your business so we can better understand the captial needs in different industries and for businesses at different stages of growth.

What zip code is your business located in? *

Which of the following statements best describes your business? Check one statement. *

A niche business that is highly specialized and may likely have a creative element such as marketing and communications, film production, web development, or business model that includes a unique positive social impact proposition

Professional services consulting, financial services, engineering, real estate or similar field

A dynamic but traditional "bread and butter industry" that provides core products and services such as construction, retail, transportation, salons or barber shops, cleaning services, catering, health care services, manufacturing

A high growth business focusing of software, hardware, or technology

What is your primary goal as an entrepreneur? Check up to 2 goals. *

Start up my business and sell it later to increase personal wealth

Operate a business that generates steady income

Grow a legacy business that can be inherited by family

Run a business that makes a positive social impact in the community

Are you the owner or founder? *

What stage is your business in? *

How many years have you been generating revenue? (indicate 0 if in development) *

How many employees do you have? Employees working up to 30 hours a week count as .5, and employees working 30+ hours a week count as 1. For example, if you have two part time employees and one full time employee, your total number of employees is 2. *

Please briefly describe your business: *

Which of the following best describes your legal structure? *

What is the approximate dollar amount of your total revenues/earnings in 2019?

Which best describes the Race/Ethnicity of the individual with majority ownership? *

Are you a certified MBE or MWBE (Minority or Minority Women Business Enterprise)? Check all that apply

Which best describes the primary owner of the business with 51% or greater ownership?

Female

Male

Other Other