A needs assessment of potential and existing small-business owners on the Blackfeet Reservation

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to determine how the Small-Business Management/Entrepreneurship curriculum at Blackfeet Community College can meet the needs of potential and existing small-business owners on the Blackfeet Reservation. A small-business needs assessment questionnaire was sent to potential and existing small-business owners on the Blakcfeet Reservation. The return rate was 62 percent and 80 percent for existing and potential business owners, respectively. The results of the study were 1)the major challenges facing small-business start-up or acquisition are securing capital/credit, developing a business plan and researching the market; 2)potential business owners are more aware of the business program than are current business owners; and 3)both current and potential business owners feel that the most useful tyes of business assistance programs would be basic business principles, computer usage, and home based businesses. Based on the information received from the responses to the questionnaire the following conclusions were reached: 1)the greatest educational need of both potential and existing small-business owners is training and instruction in basic business principles; 2)existing business owners prefer instruction during the evening hours and on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, while potential business owners prefer instruction during the morning hours and on Tuesdays, Wednedsays, and Thursdays; 3)a substantial percentage of existing business owners are unaware of the business program; 4)a market for the program does exist among current business owners; and 5)opportunities exist £or graduates of the program for employment in existing businesses on the reservation.