Small business owners in Hawai‘i, speak up: the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey is open now.
According to a recent announcement from the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, the survey aims to gather insights into how small businesses "seek financing and the challenges they face."
The survey is open to for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees and takes about 12 minutes. DBEDT says that the Fed, federal agencies, policymakers and service providers use the results to "shape programs and policies that directly affect access to capital and resources."
Last year, DBEDT notes, feedback from participants in Hawaii added to national reports on lending trends and the financial health of small businesses in the wake of natural disasters.
“We encourage Hawai‘i’s small business owners and leaders to share their perspectives through this survey,” Dennis Ling, administrator of the DBEDT Business Development and Support Division, said in the announcement. “The feedback we receive helps federal agencies and service providers better understand the financing needs and challenges facing local businesses. Their input helps inform programs and resources that support small business growth across Hawai‘i.”
The survey is open through Nov. 13 to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed and those that are preparing to launch.
You can find the survey here. Responses are confidential and personal information isn't required.
Hawai‘i's 144,375 small businesses — those with fewer than 500 employees — make up 99.3% of businesses in the Islands, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, while the 251,556 small business employees account for 49.6% of the state's employees.
According to the SBA, 4,609 establishments opened and 4,813 closed between March 2023 and March 2024, a net loss of 204. Small businesses accounted for 4,265 openings and 4,454 closings.
Find more Hawai‘i small business data here.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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