An Analysis of Black Business Ownership in England

Abstract

Of the forty million businesses in the world, only 2.6 million of those businesses are Black owned. To understand the barriers and opportunities for business ownership for Black entrepreneurs, researchers conducted qualitative interviews with six Black owned businesses in London, England and will conduct interviews with six similar businesses throughout Wisconsin. Through face to face interviews, researchers asked business owners twenty questions about the process of beginning, financing, and sustaining a business. Business owners shared their most significant challenges and opportunities. According to the African American Population Report, between 2007 and 2012 Black owned businesses in the United States increased 34.5% to 2.6 million Black firms. Yet, more than 95% of these businesses are sole proprietorship or partnerships with no paid employees. This study helped researchers to understand how Black owned businesses can overcome barriers to establish themselves and grow. Upon return to UW-Eau Claire, student research teams participated in a one credit independent study in their major to complete the analysis of their research data collection. Data gleaned from this study will inform African Americans, seeking to start a business, about the experiences of established Black business owners in developing their respective businesses.