Who provided the business owners with advice on running their businesses?
Business owners most often consulted with family members and friends, followed by other small business owners and owners of similar businesses. Women were more likely to seek advice and support from family members and from a business consultant. Men were more likely to seek advice and support from a banker. Were the business owners connected to their communities? Most business owners (75%) felt connected to very connected to their community. Sixty-four percent of the business owners belonged to a civic organizations or volunteered for one. Half also joined or volunteered for disability organizations. What would the business owners do in a different way if given the opportunity to open another business? Forty-one percent of the business owners would start with more capital. Twenty-nine percent would not do anything different.