Form SBO-1 2007 Survey of Business Owners & Self-Employed Persons

10017010
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
FORM

SBO-1

2007 SURVEY OF BUSINESS OWNERS AND
SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS
OMB No. xxxx-xxxx: Approval Expires xx/xx/20xx

(08-20-2007) Draft 22

DUE DATE
30 days after receipt of form

Mail your completed form to:
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132-0001
- OR -

Report online at:
www.census.gov/econhelp/sbo
Need help or have questions
about completing this form?
Visit www.census.gov/econhelp
Call 1-888-824-9954, between
8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Eastern time,
Monday through Friday.
- OR -

Write to the address above.
Include your 11-digit Census
File Number (CFN) printed in
the mailing address.
(Please correct any errors in this mailing address.)

YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Title 13, United States Code, requires businesses and other
organizations that receive this questionnaire to answer the questions and return the report to the U.S. Census Bureau.
By the same law, YOUR CENSUS REPORT IS CONFIDENTIAL. It may be seen only by persons sworn to uphold
the confidentiality of Census Bureau information and may be used only for statistical purposes. Further, copies
retained in respondents’ files are immune from legal process.

INSTRUCTIONS
Please read the enclosed insert before
answering the questions.

Start Here

• Use blue or black ink.

The Census Bureau is responsible for
collecting information on the U.S. economy.
●

●

●

• Place an "✘" inside the box.
• Center numbers in boxes.

The data that you provide will be combined with
the responses from other businesses and
business owners.
Survey results will contain information on the
demographic and economic composition of
businesses in the United States.

✘

• Do not put slashes through 0 or 7.

➜

7 0

Please PRINT the first and last name of the person who
is filling out this form.
Name

Your response is important, and we keep your
answers confidential.
Include today’s date and a telephone number so we can
contact you if there is a question.

This form asks for two types of information:
●

specific information about the business

●

information about the principal business owners

Today’s Date (MM/DD/YYYY)

Telephone number (Include Area Code)

—

—

Extension

➜
USCENSUSBUREAU

Please turn to the next page to continue.

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10017028

2

Please answer the following questions for the self-employment or business activity of the person(s) or
business named in the mailing label even if the business has since been sold, reorganized, or discontinued.
You may use estimates if this form requests information that is not available in your business records.
An enclosure with answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding this survey has been provided.

1 In 2007, did another company or organization own more
than 50% of this business?
Yes - Go to 65 on Page 7

No

B. In 2007, did two or more members of the same family
own the majority of this business? (Family refers to
spouses, parents/guardians, children, siblings, or close
relatives.)
Yes

2 In 2007, did employees under an Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (ESOP) own more than 50% of this
business?
Yes - Go to 65 on Page 7

No

3 In 2007, did members in a cooperative or club own more

No

C. As of December 31, 2007, how many owners were
there in this business?
• Do not combine two or more owners to create
one owner.
• Count spouses and partners as separate owners.

than 50% of this business?
Yes - Go to 65 on Page 7

4 In 2007, did an estate or trust own more than 50% of this
business?
Yes - Go to 65 on Page 7

No

5 In 2007, did an Alaska Native Regional or Village
Corporation or an American Indian tribal entity own
more than 50% of this business?
Yes - Go to 65 on Page 7

No

6 In 2007, was this business a nonprofit organization?
Yes - Go to 65 on Page 7

1

5–9

2

10 – 49

3

50 or more

4

Unknown

No

No

D. For the person(s) owning the largest percentage(s)
in this business in 2007, please list the percentage
owned by each person and his or her position title.
• Do not report percentages owned by parent
companies, estates, trusts, etc.
• If more than 4 persons owned this business equally,
select any 4.
• Round percentages to whole numbers. For example,
report 1/3 ownership (33.3%) as:

3 3.0 %

7 In 2007, was this business a publicly held corporation?
Yes

No

Percentage
Owned
(Estimates are
acceptable)

8 In 2007, did any individual own 10% or more of the
rights, claims, interests, or stock in this business?
Yes

No - Go to 65
on Page 7

Position Title
(Example: sole owner,
co-owner, shareholder,
president,
vice president, etc.)

Owner 1:

.0

%

Owner 2:

.0

%

Owner 3:

.0

%

Owner 4:

.0

%

9 A. In 2007, was this business jointly owned by a husband
and wife?
Yes, equally operated by husband and wife
Yes, but primarily operated by husband
Yes, but primarily operated by wife
No

FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

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10017036

19 Was Owner 1 born in the United States?

Owner 1

Yes

Please answer the following questions about Owner 1
listed in 9 D on Page 2.
10 How did Owner 1 initially acquire ownership of this
business?
Founded

Inherited

Purchased

Received transfer of
ownership/gift

11 When did Owner 1 acquire ownership of this business?
Before 1980

2005

1980 – 1989

2006

1990 – 1999

2007

2000 – 2004

Don’t know

No

Please answer BOTH Question 20 about
☞ NOTE:
Hispanic origin and Question 21 about race. For
this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
20 Is Owner 1 Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian,
Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard,
and so on.

12 In 2007, which of the following best represents Owner 1’s
function(s) in this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

21 What is Owner 1’s race?

Providing services and/or producing goods
Managing day-to-day operations
Financial control with the authority to sign loans,
leases, and contracts
None of the above

Mark ✘ one or more races.
White
Black, African Am., or Negro
American Indian or Alaska Native - Print name of
enrolled or principal tribe.

13 In 2007, what was the average number of hours per week
that Owner 1 spent managing or working in this business?
None

40 hours

Asian Indian

Japanese

Less than 20 hours

41 – 59 hours

Chinese

Korean

20 – 39 hours

60 hours or more

Filipino

Vietnamese

14 In 2007, did this business provide Owner 1’s primary
source of personal income?
Yes

No

15 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, had Owner 1 ever owned a business or been
self-employed?
Yes

No

16 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, what was the highest degree or level of school
Owner 1 completed?
Mark ✘ ONE box only for the highest level completed or
degree received.
Less than high
school graduate

Associate Degree

High school graduate Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s Degree

Technical, trade, or
vocational school

Master’s, Doctorate,
or Professional Degree

Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Pacific Islander - Print race, for example, Fijian,
Tongan, and so on.

Some other race - Print race

22 A. Is Owner 1 a veteran of any branch of the U.S.
Yes

17 What is the sex of Owner 1?
Female

18 What was the age of Owner 1 as of December 31, 2007?
Under 25

45 – 54

25 – 34

55 – 64

35 – 44

65 or over

FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

Native Hawaiian

military service including the Coast Guard?

Some college,
but no degree
Male

Other Asian - Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian,
Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on.

No - Go to 23

B. (If Yes) Was Owner 1 disabled as the result of injury
incurred or aggravated during active military service?
Yes

No

23 Was more than 1 owner listed in 9 D on Page 2?
Yes

No - Go to 65
on Page 7

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3

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4

33 Was Owner 2 born in the United States?

Owner 2

Yes

Please answer the following questions about Owner 2
listed in 9 D on Page 2.
24 How did Owner 2 initially acquire ownership of this
business?
Founded

Inherited

Purchased

Received transfer of
ownership/gift

25 When did Owner 2 acquire ownership of this business?
Before 1980

2005

1980 – 1989

2006

1990 – 1999

2007

2000 – 2004

Don’t know

No

Please answer BOTH Question 34 about
☞ NOTE:
Hispanic origin and Question 35 about race. For
this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
34 Is Owner 2 Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian,
Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard,
and so on.

26 In 2007, which of the following best represents Owner 2’s
function(s) in this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

35 What is Owner 2’s race?

Providing services and/or producing goods
Managing day-to-day operations
Financial control with the authority to sign loans,
leases, and contracts
None of the above

Mark ✘ one or more races.
White
Black, African Am., or Negro
American Indian or Alaska Native - Print name of
enrolled or principal tribe.

27 In 2007, what was the average number of hours per week
that Owner 2 spent managing or working in this business?
None

40 hours

Asian Indian

Japanese

Less than 20 hours

41 – 59 hours

Chinese

Korean

20 – 39 hours

60 hours or more

Filipino

Vietnamese

28 In 2007, did this business provide Owner 2’s primary
source of personal income?
Yes

No

29 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, had Owner 2 ever owned a business or been
self-employed?
Yes

No

30 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, what was the highest degree or level of school
Owner 2 completed?
Mark ✘ ONE box only for the highest level completed or
degree received.
Less than high
school graduate

Associate Degree

High school graduate Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s Degree

Technical, trade, or
vocational school

Master’s, Doctorate,
or Professional Degree

Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Pacific Islander - Print race, for example, Fijian,
Tongan, and so on.

Some other race - Print race

36 A. Is Owner 2 a veteran of any branch of the U.S.
Yes

31 What is the sex of Owner 2?
Female

32 What was the age of Owner 2 as of December 31, 2007?
Under 25

45 – 54

25 – 34

55 – 64

35 – 44

65 or over

FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

Native Hawaiian

military service including the Coast Guard?

Some college,
but no degree
Male

Other Asian - Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian,
Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on.

No - Go to 37

B. (If Yes) Was Owner 2 disabled as the result of injury
incurred or aggravated during active military service?
Yes

No

37 Were more than 2 owners listed in 9 D on Page 2?
Yes

No - Go to 65
on Page 7

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47 Was Owner 3 born in the United States?

Owner 3

Yes

Please answer the following questions about Owner 3
listed in 9 D on Page 2.
38 How did Owner 3 initially acquire ownership of this
business?
Founded

Inherited

Purchased

Received transfer of
ownership/gift

39 When did Owner 3 acquire ownership of this business?
Before 1980

2005

1980 – 1989

2006

1990 – 1999

2007

2000 – 2004

Don’t know

No

Please answer BOTH Question 48 about
☞ NOTE:
Hispanic origin and Question 49 about race. For
this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
48 Is Owner 3 Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian,
Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard,
and so on.

40 In 2007, which of the following best represents Owner 3’s
function(s) in this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

49 What is Owner 3’s race?

Providing services and/or producing goods
Managing day-to-day operations
Financial control with the authority to sign loans,
leases, and contracts
None of the above

Mark ✘ one or more races.
White
Black, African Am., or Negro
American Indian or Alaska Native - Print name of
enrolled or principal tribe.

41 In 2007, what was the average number of hours per week
that Owner 3 spent managing or working in this business?
None

40 hours

Asian Indian

Japanese

Less than 20 hours

41 – 59 hours

Chinese

Korean

20 – 39 hours

60 hours or more

Filipino

Vietnamese

42 In 2007, did this business provide Owner 3’s primary
source of personal income?
Yes

No

43 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, had Owner 3 ever owned a business or been
self-employed?
Yes

No

44 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, what was the highest degree or level of school
Owner 3 completed?
Mark ✘ ONE box only for the highest level completed or
degree received.
Less than high
school graduate

Associate Degree

High school graduate Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s Degree

Technical, trade, or
vocational school

Master’s, Doctorate,
or Professional Degree

Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Pacific Islander - Print race, for example, Fijian,
Tongan, and so on.

Some other race - Print race

50 A. Is Owner 3 a veteran of any branch of the U.S.
Yes

45 What is the sex of Owner 3?
Female

46 What was the age of Owner 3 as of December 31, 2007?
Under 25

45 – 54

25 – 34

55 – 64

35 – 44

65 or over

FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

Native Hawaiian

military service including the Coast Guard?

Some college,
but no degree
Male

Other Asian - Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian,
Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on.

No - Go to 51

B. (If Yes) Was Owner 3 disabled as the result of injury
incurred or aggravated during active military service?
Yes

No

51 Were more than 3 owners listed in 9 D on Page 2?
Yes

No - Go to 65
on Page 7

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6

61 Was Owner 4 born in the United States?

Owner 4

Yes

Please answer the following questions about Owner 4
listed in 9 D on Page 2.
52 How did Owner 4 initially acquire ownership of this
business?
Founded

Inherited

Purchased

Received transfer of
ownership/gift

53 When did Owner 4 acquire ownership of this business?
Before 1980

2005

1980 – 1989

2006

1990 – 1999

2007

2000 – 2004

Don’t know

No

Please answer BOTH Question 62 about
☞ NOTE:
Hispanic origin and Question 63 about race. For
this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
62 Is Owner 4 Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian,
Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard,
and so on.

54 In 2007, which of the following best represents Owner 4’s
function(s) in this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

63 What is Owner 4’s race?

Providing services and/or producing goods
Managing day-to-day operations
Financial control with the authority to sign loans,
leases, and contracts
None of the above

Mark ✘ one or more races.
White
Black, African Am., or Negro
American Indian or Alaska Native - Print name of
enrolled or principal tribe.

55 In 2007, what was the average number of hours per week
that Owner 4 spent managing or working in this business?
None

40 hours

Asian Indian

Japanese

Less than 20 hours

41 – 59 hours

Chinese

Korean

20 – 39 hours

60 hours or more

Filipino

Vietnamese

56 In 2007, did this business provide Owner 4’s primary
source of personal income?
Yes

No

57 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, had Owner 4 ever owned a business or been
self-employed?
Yes

No

58 Prior to establishing, purchasing, or acquiring this
business, what was the highest degree or level of school
Owner 4 completed?
Mark ✘ ONE box only for the highest level completed or
degree received.
Less than high
school graduate

Associate Degree

High school graduate Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s Degree

Technical, trade, or
vocational school

Other Asian - Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian,
Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on.

Master’s, Doctorate,
or Professional Degree

Native Hawaiian
Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Pacific Islander - Print race, for example, Fijian,
Tongan, and so on.

Some other race - Print race

64 A. Is Owner 4 a veteran of any branch of the U.S.
military service including the Coast Guard?

Some college,
but no degree

Yes

59 What is the sex of Owner 4?
Male

Female

60 What was the age of Owner 4 as of December 31, 2007?
Under 25

45 – 54

25 – 34

55 – 64

35 – 44

65 or over

FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

No - Go to 65
on Page 7

B. (If Yes) Was Owner 4 disabled as the result of injury
incurred or aggravated during active military service?
Yes

No

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10017077

70 In 2007, were any of the following sources used to finance

Business

expansion or capital improvement(s) for this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

65 In what year was this business originally established?

Personal/family savings of owner(s)

Before 1980

2004

Personal/family assets other than savings of owner(s)

1980 – 1989

2005

Personal/family home equity loan

1990 – 1999

2006

Personal/business credit card(s)

2000 – 2002

2007

Business loan from federal, state, or local government

2003

Don’t know

Government-guaranteed business loan from a bank
or financial institution

66 A. For the owner(s) as of December 31, 2007, what was

Business loan from a bank or financial institution

the source(s) of capital used to start or acquire this
business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

Business loan/investment from family/friend(s)
Investment by venture capitalist(s) (An early-stage
investment in exchange for ownership equity by an
individual, outside group, or business not directly involved
in the overall operation and management of the business.)

Personal/family savings of owner(s)
Personal/family assets other than savings
of owner(s)

Business profits and/or assets

Personal/family home equity loan

Grants

Personal/business credit card(s)

Other source(s) of capital

Business loan from federal, state, or local
government

Don’t know

Government-guaranteed business loan from a
bank or financial institution

Did not have access to capital

Business loan from a bank or financial institution

Did not expand or make capital improvement(s)

Business loan/investment from family/friend(s)

71 In 2007, which of the following types of customers
accounted for 10% or more of this business’s total sales
of goods and/or services?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

Investment by venture capitalist(s) (An early-stage
investment in exchange for ownership equity by an
individual, outside group, or business not directly involved
in the overall operation and management of the business.)

Federal government

Grants

State and local government, including school districts,
transportation authorities, etc.
Other businesses and/or organizations, including
distributors of your product(s)

Other source(s) of capital
Don’t know
None needed – Go to 67

Individuals

B. For the owner(s) as of December 31, 2007, what was
the total amount of capital used to start or acquire this
business? (Capital includes savings, other assets, and borrowed

72 In 2007, what percent of this business’s total sales of
goods and/or services consisted of exports outside the
United States?

funds of owner(s)).

Less than $5,000

$100,000 – $249,999

None

20% - 49%

$5,000 – $9,999

$250,000 – $999,999

Less than 1%

50% - 99%

$10,000 – $24,999

$1,000,000 or more

1% - 4%

100%

$25,000 – $49,999

Don’t know

5% - 9%

Don’t know

10% - 19%

$50,000 – $99,999

67 In 2007, did this business operate primarily from

73 In 2007, did this business establish operations outside
the United States?

somebody’s home?
Yes

68 In 2007, did this business operate as a franchise?
Yes

Yes

No

No

74 In 2007, did this business outsource or transfer any
business function and/or service to a company outside
the United States?

No

Yes

No

69 In 2007, did a franchiser own more than 50% of this
business?
Yes
FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

No

➜

Please turn to the next page to continue.

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8
75 In 2007, in which language(s) did this business conduct

81 In 2007, did any of the following characteristics describe
the activity of this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

transactions with its customers?
Mark ✘ all that apply.
English

Hindi/Urdu

Russian

Operated less than 40 hours per week on average

Arabic

Italian

Spanish

Operated less than 12 months

Chinese

Japanese

Tagalog

Seasonal business (for example, fireworks sales
or tax preparer)

French

Korean

Vietnamese

German

Polish

Other

Greek

Portuguese

Operated occasionally (for example, event organizer
or guest speaker)
None of the above

76 In 2007, were any of the following types of workers used
by this business?

Yes

82 A. Is this business currently operating?

A. Full-time paid employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Part-time paid employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No

Yes

No

B. (If No) Did the operations cease for any of the reasons
listed below?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

C. Paid day laborers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Owner(s) retired

D. Temporary staffing obtained from a
temporary help service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lack of personal
loans/credit

Owner(s) deceased

Started another
business

E. Leased employees from a leasing service
or a professional employer organization. . . .

Operated for a specific
or one-time event

F. Contractors, subcontractors, independent
contractors, or outside consultants. . . . . . . . .

Inadequate cash
flow or low sales

paid totally or partly by this business?
Mark ✘ all that apply.

Contributions to retirement plans, including 401(k),
Keogh, etc.
Profit sharing and/or stock options
Paid holidays, vacation, and/or sick leave
None of the above

Other

Lack of business
loans/credit

77 In 2007, which of the following employee benefits were

Health insurance

Sold this business

Thank you for participating in the Survey of Business
Owners and Self-Employed Persons.
Please return the completed original questionnaire in the
postage-paid envelope. Make sure the barcode above your
address shows in the window of the envelope. Please make
a photocopy of this form for your records.
If the envelope has been misplaced, please mail the form to:
U.S. Census Bureau
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132-0001

78 In 2007, did this business have a Web site?
Yes

Remarks

No

79 A. In 2007, did this business have any e-commerce sales?
(E-commerce sales and other operating receipts are sales of goods
and/or services where an order is placed by the buyer or price and
terms of the sale are negotiated over the Internet. Payment may or
may not be made online.)

No - Go to 80

Yes

B. In 2007, what percent of this business’s total sales of
goods and/or services were e-commerce sales?
Less than 1%

20% – 49%

1% – 4%

50% – 99%

5% – 9%

100%

10% – 19%

Don’t know

80 In 2007, did this business make purchases online?
Yes

FORM SBO-1 (08/20/2007) Draft 22

No

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