| 4. | Which were the greatest obstacles to starting up your business?
|
| | _____ Lack of capital: credit or equity investment
|
| | _____ Lack of business skills
|
| | _____ Lack of technical skills
|
| | _____ Did not know how to start up a business
|
| | _____ Lack of appropriate space to set up business
|
| | _____ Rental space in the open market was too costly
|
| | _____ Did not know what business services were available
|
| | _____ Trying to do it all by myself without seeking professional assistance
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 5. | Who was most instrumental in facilitating the process of starting up your
business?
|
| | _____ Small Business Administration (SBA) staff/materials
|
| | _____ Volunteer organization, nonprofit agency
|
| | _____ Incubator staff
|
| | _____ Incubator tenants through networking
|
| | _____ Family and/or friends
|
| | _____ Community/technical college staff
|
| | _____ Personnel from financial institutions
|
| | _____ Attorney, accountant, or other provider of professional services
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| B. | About Incubator Services
|
|---|
| 6. | About availability and access to incubator services, please check all that apply:
|
| | _____ Services are clearly defined and presented to clients in promotional materials.
|
| | _____ Services are available for a nominal fee or free of charge.
|
| | _____ Frequency, duration, and cost are clearly defined for each service.
|
| | _____ Client can choose from various service options according to individual needs or ability to pay.
|
| 7. | About delivery of educational/training services if any, who is delivering
most of these services? Please check all that apply:
|
| | _____ Most services are provided by businesses in the community.
|
| | _____ Most services are provided by incubator staff.
|
| | _____ Most services are provided by a combination of sources.
|
| | _____ Most services are delivered by educational institutions.
|
| | _____ Have no need for education and training services.
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 8. | What is the format of education and training services, if any, provided in
your incubator? Please check all that apply:
|
| | _____ Individual on-site training/consultation
|
| | _____ Workshops developed upon request from clients
|
| | _____ Series of education/training modules offered periodically
|
| | _____ Videos for self-paced training and instruction
|
| | _____ Seminars offered periodically
|
| 9. | In your opinion, what services are being most effectively provided to
you by the incubator? Please respond for all incubator-provided services that apply:
|
| | _____ Financing assistance
|
| | _____ Clerical/office services
|
| | _____ Management assistance (e.g., accounting, personnel management)
|
| | _____ Technical assistance (e.g., engineering, prototype development, and so on)
|
| | _____ Education/training (e.g., seminars, courses)
|
| | _____ Business space and infrastructure
|
| | _____ Entrepreneurial development (e.g., plans for expansion and growth)
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 10. | What feature do you like best about the incubator? Please check all that apply:
|
| | _____ Offering cheaper rates for rent and services
|
| | _____ Providing good services at fair prices
|
| | _____ Maintaining facility in good condition year-round
|
| | _____ Assisting with financing
|
| | _____ Reducing "business stress" through a quality incubation environment
|
| | _____ Providing for networking opportunities with other clients
|
| | _____ Promoting entrepreneurial skills through education and training services
|
| | _____ Helping businesses cluster with other businesses in and out of incubator
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 14. | How did you learn your business skills? Please check all that apply:
|
| | _____ From a close relative who started or owned a business
|
| | _____ Through Small Business Administration (SBA) workshops/materials
|
| | _____ From outreach efforts of business incubators
|
| | _____ Working for a company for a number of years
|
| | _____ Working for family business for a number of years
|
| | _____ Attending related programs in a vocational high school
|
| | _____ Attending related programs in a community/technical school
|
| | _____ Education and training as part of undergraduate/graduate degree
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 15. | How did you learn the technical skills needed in your business? Check all
that apply:
|
| | _____ From a close relative who started or owned a business
|
| | _____ Working for a company for a number of years
|
| | _____ Working for family business for a number of years
|
| | _____ Attending related programs in vocational high school
|
| | _____ Attending related programs in community/technical school
|
| | _____ Education and training as part of undergraduate/graduate degree
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 16. | In your opinion, what are the most important skills needed to operate your
business? Check all that apply:
|
| | _____ Business skills: management, marketing, finance, and decision making
|
| | _____ Technical skills: knowledge of the business trade
|
| | _____ Entrepreneurial skills: business vision to succeed, expand, and grow
|
| | _____ Interpersonal skills: interacting effectively with others
|
| | _____ Thinking skills: problem solving and logical organization
|
| | _____ Basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and computing
|
| | _____ Technological skills: use of computers, software, and latest equipment
|
| | _____ Personal skills: hard work, teamwork, and creativity
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 17. | In which of the following skills do you feel you need further
education/training?
|
| | _____ Business skills: management, marketing, finance, and decision making
|
| | _____ Technical skills: knowledge of the business trade
|
| | _____ Entrepreneurship: business vision to succeed, expand, and grow
|
| | _____ Interpersonal skills: interacting effectively with others
|
| | _____ Thinking skills: problem solving and logical organization
|
| | _____ Basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and computing
|
| | _____ Technological skills: use of computers, software, and latest equipment
|
| | _____ Personal skills: hard work, teamwork, creativity, and time management
|
| | _____ Other (please specify):_________________________
|
| 18. | When I entered the incubator. . .
|
| | _____ I had a well-defined concept of my business products/services.
|
| | _____ I did not have a written business plan.
|
| | _____ I needed substantial assistance developing a business plan.
|
| | _____ I was open to modification/adjustment to my original business idea.
|
| 19. | About limitations to start-up my business . . .
|
| | _____ I did not know how to go about starting up a business.
|
| | _____ I did not have the necessary financial base to start up a business.
|
| | _____ I did not really know what I was getting into.
|
| | _____ I did not know where to find assistance on how to start up a business.
|
| | _____ I could not afford market rates for business space.
|
| 20. | About business product/service, when I started up my business . . .
|
| | _____ I knew how to produce/deliver business goods or services.
|
| | _____ I had a good business idea but had to rely on someone else to produce or
deliver goods or services.
|
| | _____ I had identified steps and operations required to produce/deliver goods
or services.
|
| | _____ I did not need technical assistance to produce/deliver goods or
services.
|
| 21. | About knowledge of target/potential clientele, when I started up my
business . . .
|
| | _____ I knew the scope of my target/potential clientele.
|
| | _____ I knew the needs of my target/potential clientele. |
| | _____ I required assistance to identify clientele.
|
| | _____ I did not know where to get information about potential clientele.
|
| 22. | About marketing of product/services, when I started up my business . . .
|
| | _____ I had a marketing plan to sell my product/services.
|
| | _____ I knew how to proceed with marketing plan or marketing strategies.
|
| | _____ I needed assistance to develop marketing plan.
|
| | _____ A marketing plan was not a priority.
|
| 23. | About the management of my business . . .
|
| | _____ My business is organized in a functional manner.
|
| | _____ I do not keep good records of business operations.
|
| | _____ I keep my business operation running smoothly.
|
| | _____ I am able to handle business management issues on my own effectively.
|
| | _____ I do not require assistance on business management.
|
| 24. | About personnel management . . .
|
| | _____ I use a screening process when hiring employees.
|
| | _____ I am able to effectively resolve conflict with employees.
|
| | _____ I follow legal procedures to fire employees.
|
| | _____ I hire only family members and relatives.
|
| | _____ I evaluate job performance and provide feedback to employees.
|
| | _____ I am able to motivate employees.
|
| 25. | About handling business finances . . .
|
| | _____ I am always able to pay business bills.
|
| | _____ I am able to keep cost of business operations at a competitive level.
|
| | _____ I am able to offer competitive prices for products/services.
|
| | _____ I am able to handle money operations effectively.
|
| | _____ I have received assistance on how to handle business finances.
|
| | _____ I need assistance handling business finances.
|
| 26. | About plans for expansion and growth . . .
|
| | _____ I have written plans for expansion and growth.
|
| | _____ I have taken steps to implement plans for expansion and growth.
|
| | _____ I need assistance to develop written plans for expansion and growth.
|
| 27. | About communication and interpersonal skills . . .
|
| | _____ I can communicate effectively with people.
|
| | _____ I have problems negotiating agreements to resolve conflicts.
|
| | _____ I need to improve my skills to communicate in writing with people.
|
| | _____ I have problems interacting effectively with customers and employees.
|
| 28. | About computer skills . . .
|
| | _____ I am familiar with basic use of computers in the workplace.
|
| | _____ I work comfortably with cutting-edge computer technology.
|
| | _____ I feel I need education and training to work with computers.
|
| 29. | About problem solving . . .
|
| | _____ I recognize when something is not working right in my business
operation.
|
| | _____ I am able to identify possible causes of problems in my business on my
own.
|
| | _____ Whenever I have a problem, I devise a plan of action to resolve it.
|
| | _____ I evaluate and monitor progress of solutions to problems.
|
| 30. | About computing skills . . .
|
| | _____ I am able to make reasonable estimates of arithmetic results without a
calculator.
|
| | _____ I use tables, graphs, diagrams, and charts to obtain or convey
quantitative information.
|
| | _____ I have problems figuring out percentages.
|
| 31. | About education and training opportunities . . .
|
| | _____ I feel I need further education and training to develop business,
technical, and entrepreneurial skills.
|
| | _____ I am willing to pay for education/training opportunities to develop
business, technical, and entrepreneurial skills.
|
| | _____ I am aware of educational opportunities in my community to develop
entrepreneurial skills.
|
| E. | Personal Background of Owner
|
|---|
| 32. | Please indicate your gender: Male _____ Female _____
|
| 33. | What is your age?
|
| | _____ Between 18-25 years old
|
| | _____ Between 26-35 years old
|
| | _____ Between 36-50 years old
|
| | _____ 51+ years old
|
| 34. | What is your ethnic background?
|
| | _____ Hispanic
|
| | _____ Asian/Pacific Islander
|
| | _____ Black/Not Hispanic
|
| | _____ Native American or Alaskan
|
| | _____ White/Not Hispanic
|
