Interview SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. Examples: Owner of a nursery, restaurant, convenience food store (7-11, etc.), real estate company, bakery, video rental store, insurance company, art gallery, beauty salon, book store, building contractor, gardening service, apartment owner, etc. Ask the instructor for more ideas or the name of someone to interview.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Name of person interviewed, title, company name, company address and phone number.

2. Why did you go into business for yourself? How long have you been in business?

3. Why did you choose this particular kind of business?

4. Which type of ownership is the business operating under (sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation?)

5. What problems did you encounter in starting your business? (Examples: obtaining money, finding the right location, attracting customers, getting good employees, collecting money from clients, etc.) List at least 3 or 4 problems.

6. To what extent is your business affected by general economic conditions, such as a recession?

7. How much competition is there in your type of business and what do you do to compete with the others? (Examples: better service, lower prices, advertising, longer hours, etc.)

8. What advice would you give to someone wanting to go into business today?