The 2026 Virginia
Small Business Survey

2026 Virginia Small Business Survey

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Virginia’s small businesses power communities, create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and drive growth in every region of the Commonwealth. The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) is conducting this survey to understand what is helping businesses, what is getting in the way, where support is difficult to navigate, and which changes should be prioritized.

The survey takes approximately 20 minutes. It should be completed by one owner, co-owner, or senior decision-maker per business. Your participation is voluntary, and results will be reported in aggregate. Please do not provide confidential, proprietary, tax, banking, or personally sensitive information. Choosing not to participate will not affect access to SBSD programs or services.

The survey closes September 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Questions or requests for an alternative format may be directed to sbsd@sbsd.virginia.gov.

To begin, please confirm that you are at least 18 years old, are responding on behalf of a small business that operates in Virginia, and voluntarily agree to participate.

I Confirm

About You

Your contact information is visible only to SBSD (not shared or sold) and is used to share survey updates, to notify you of the summary of results, and to contact you if we need to clarify any of your survey responses.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Country Phone Number

Section A: About Your Business

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

Which best describes your role?(Required)

Owner or co-owner

Founder of a pre-revenue venture

Senior executive or senior decision-maker

Manager authorized to respond for the business

Employee

Business-support, chamber, government, lender, or other partner on behalf of multiple businesses

Other

What is the current status of the business or venture?(Required)

Operating and generating revenue

Operating but not yet generating revenue

Pre-revenue and preparing to launch

Temporarily paused

Closed within the past 24 months

Closed more than 24 months ago

Not based in Virginia and does not have Virginia operations

Where is the business's primary Virginia location? (city/county)(Required)

What is the five-digit ZIP code of the business's primary Virginia location?(Required)

How long has the business been operating?(Required)

Not yet launched

Less than 1 year

1-2 years

3-5 years

6-10 years

11-20 years

More than 20 years

Business closed within the past 24 months

What is the business's primary industry?(Required)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, or food production

Construction or skilled trades

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing, or logistics

Wholesale or retail trade

Information technology, software, data, or telecommunications

Professional, scientific, technical, consulting, or legal services

Finance, insurance, or real estate

Health care, behavioral health, or social assistance

Education or training

Hospitality, tourism, restaurants, arts, entertainment, or recreation

Personal or other services

Nonprofit or social enterprise

Other

Approximately how many people currently work in the business, including owners? If business closed, indicate the number of employees before closure.(Required)

0 (pre-revenue or no active workers)

2-4

5-9

10-19

20-49

50-99

100-249

250 or more

Prefer not to answer

Section B: Virginia's Business Climate, Strengths, and Barriers

(Approx. 5-6 minutes to complete)

Overall, how would you rate Virginia’s current business climate for small businesses?(Required)

Very favorable

Somewhat favorable

Neither favorable nor unfavorable

Somewhat unfavorable

Very unfavorable

Not sure

What are Virginia’s greatest strengths as a place to start and grow a small business?(Required)

Select up to 5 choices.

Quality of life

Skilled workforce and talent

Central location and access to customers

Transportation, broadband, energy, or other infrastructure

Colleges, universities, and research institutions

Strong industry clusters and supply chains

State or local business programs

Government contracting opportunities

Corporate and commercial market opportunities

Access to lenders or investors

Entrepreneurial networks, chambers, and support organizations

Community support for local businesses

Not sure

Which best describe the business’s primary goals during the next three years?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Launch the business

Stabilize operations or cash flow

Maintain the current size and customer base

Grow revenue or customers

Hire employees or expand the workforce

Enter new markets, supply chains, or government contracting

Open or expand a location or facility

Adopt technology or improve productivity

Prepare for sale, succession, or ownership transition

Recover from a disruption or prevent closure

Close or exit the business

Which barriers most limit the business’s ability to start, stabilize, grow, hire, invest, or enter new markets?(Required)

Select up to 5 choices.

Cost of doing business or inflation

Taxes or fees

Regulations, licensing, or permitting

Commercial real estate, facilities, or site availability

Childcare, housing, or transportation affecting workers

Broadband, technology, cybersecurity, or digital capacity

Workforce availability, skills, wages, or retention

Access to capital, cash flow, or credit

Customer demand, marketing, or sales

Government contracting or procurement processes

Corporate supply-chain access

Slow payment or contract financing

Supply-chain, inventory, or equipment constraints

Business management knowledge or trusted advising

No significant barriers at this time

Other

Which single barrier has the greatest impact on the business?(Required)

Cost of doing business or inflation

Taxes or fees

Regulations, licensing, or permitting

Commercial real estate, facilities, or site availability

Childcare, housing, or transportation affecting workers

Broadband, technology, cybersecurity, or digital capacity

Workforce availability, skills, wages, or retention

Access to capital, cash flow, or credit

Customer demand, marketing, or sales

Government contracting or procurement processes

Corporate supply-chain access

Slow payment or contract financing

Supply-chain, inventory, or equipment constraints

Business management knowledge or trusted advising

No significant barriers at this time

Other

Compared with 12 months ago, is the business’s overall condition better, about the same, or worse?(Required)

Much better

Somewhat better

About the same

Somewhat worse

Much worse

Not applicable/business has not operated for 12 months

What single change would make the greatest practical difference for the business?(Required)

What outcome do you hope that single change could enable?(Required)

Section C: Workforce & Talent Development

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

During the past 12 months, did your business try to hire employees or experience difficulty retaining employees?(Required)

Tried to hire and had significant difficulty

Tried to hire and had some difficulty

Tried to hire and had little or no difficulty

Did not try to hire, but had retention difficulty

Did not try to hire and had no retention difficulty

Not applicable / no employees planned

Which workforce challenges most impact the businesses?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Too few qualified applicants

Skills or experience gaps

Wage expectations or wage competition

Health insurance or benefit costs

Housing availability or cost

Transportation barriers

Childcare availability or cost

Credentialing or licensing requirements

Difficulty finding work-based learning or apprenticeship partners

Recruiting, screening, or human-resources capacity

Seasonal or unpredictable demand

Employee turnover or retention

None (or not applicable)

Other

Which types of support would most improve the business’s ability to recruit, train, or retain workers?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Industry-aligned training or credentials

Recruiting or talent-matching assistance

Paid internships, work-based learning, or apprenticeships

Incumbent-worker training or upskilling

Human-resources and labor-compliance assistance

Wage or training subsidies

More affordable health or employee benefits

Childcare, housing, or transportation solutions

Connections to colleges, schools, or workforce boards

None (or not applicable)

Other

During the next 12 months, what does your business expect to do with its workforce?(Required)

Increase by 10 or more workers

Increase by 3–9 workers

Increase by 1–2 workers

Remain about the same

Decrease

Not sure

Not applicable / no employees planned

Section D: Access to capital and cash flow

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

During the past 24 months, what was your experience with obtaining financing?(Required)

Applied and received all financing requested

Applied and received part of the financing requested

Applied and was denied

Started an application but did not complete it

Needed financing but did not apply

Did not need external financing

Not sure / prefer not to answer

For which purposes has the business most experienced a need for financing?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Startup costs

Working capital or cash-flow stabilization

Inventory or supplies

Equipment, vehicles, or technology

Commercial real estate, facility, or leasehold improvements

Expansion or new location

Hiring, payroll, or workforce training

Contract mobilization or contract financing

Exporting or entering new markets

Business acquisition, succession, or ownership transition

Debt refinancing

Emergency or disaster recovery

What most limits the business’s ability to obtain appropriate financing?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Credit score or credit history

Insufficient collateral or owner equity

Limited operating history or inconsistent revenue

Weak cash flow or debt-service coverage

Loan size too small or transaction cost too high

Interest rate, fees, or repayment terms

Documentation or financial-statement requirements

Did not know which product or lender fit the need

Application was too complex or time-consuming

Financing was not available quickly enough

Concern about taking on debt or giving up ownership

Bias, lack of trust, or unequal treatment

No significant financing barrier

Not sure

Other

Which Commonwealth actions would most help address small-business financing gaps?

Select up to 3 choices.

Expand flexible loan or credit-enhancement programs

Increase microloans or small-dollar financing

Support startup, equity, or patient-capital options

Provide contract, purchase-order, or mobilization financing

Help businesses become financing-ready

Improve navigation among lenders and public programs

Provide clearer eligibility and application guidance

Strengthen partnerships with community banks, credit unions, and mission lenders

Address collateral or credit barriers through guarantees or cash collateral

Collect faster payment from public customers

No additional Commonwealth role is needed

Other

Section E: Customers, markets, procurement, and technology

(Approx. 3-4 minutes to complete)

Which customer or market channels currently generate revenue for your business?(Required)

Individual consumers

Other small businesses

Large corporations or prime contractors

Virginia state agencies or public institutions

Virginia local governments or public schools

Federal government

Customers outside Virginia

International customers / exports

Online marketplaces or e-commerce

Not yet generating revenue

Other

Which opportunities could most accelerate your small business’s growth or competitiveness?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

State or local government procurement

Federal procurement

Corporate supply chains or subcontracting

Exporting or interstate markets

Technology adoption, automation, or cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence tools

Manufacturing, production, or supply-chain capacity

Tourism, visitor markets, or place-based development

Industry clusters, accelerators, or peer networks

Infrastructure or major development projects

E-commerce, marketing, or customer acquisition

New products, research, or commercialization

Other

During the past three years, which best describes your business’s experience pursuing government contracts?(Required)

Won one or more prime contracts

Won one or more subcontracts but no prime contract

Submitted bids or proposals but did not win

Registered or became certified but did not submit a bid

Explored opportunities but did not register or become certified

Did not pursue government contracting

Not sure

Which barriers most limit your small business's ability to compete for government or major corporate contracts?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Finding opportunities that fit the business

Understanding registration, certification, or eligibility

Bid or proposal development capacity

Insurance, bonding, licensing, or security requirements

Past-performance or experience requirements

Contract size or bundling

Pricing, estimating, or compliance costs

Working capital, slow payment, or mobilization financing

Connecting with buyers, primes, or procurement officials

Limited feedback after an unsuccessful bid

No significant barrier

Other

Which statement best describes the business’s current use of technology and artificial intelligence?(Required)

Technology and AI are integrated into core operations

Using several digital tools and testing AI

Using basic digital tools but not AI

Interested but unsure where to start

Cost, skills, cybersecurity, or trust concerns limit adoption

Technology or AI is not currently relevant to the business

What technology-related assistance would be most useful?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Selecting affordable tools

Digital marketing, e-commerce, or customer systems

Accounting, financial, inventory, or operations systems

AI use cases, policies, or employee training

Cybersecurity, data privacy, or risk management

Automation, manufacturing, or productivity improvements

Broadband, equipment, or implementation financing

No assistance needed

Other

Section F: Navigating business-support resources

(Approx. 3-4 minutes to complete)

How easy or difficult is it to identify the right business-support resource in Virginia?(Required)

Very easy

Somewhat easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Somewhat difficult

Very difficult

Have not looked for assistance

Where would you look first for help with a business question or challenge?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD)

Virginia Business One Stop or another state agency

Local government or economic development office

Chamber of commerce or industry association

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

APEX Accelerator

Women’s Business Center, Veterans Business Outreach Center, or other specialized provider

Bank, credit union, lender, accountant, attorney, or paid consultant

College, university, workforce board, or community college

Online search, social media, or AI tool

Peer business owner, mentor, family, or friend

Not sure where to start

Other

Which organizations or resources has the business used during the past three years?(Required)

SBSD business counseling, training, outreach, or Business One Stop

SBSD certification services

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA)

SBSD sourcing, compliance, or procurement assistance

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

APEX Accelerator

Chamber of commerce or industry association

Local government or economic development organization

Women’s Business Center, VBOC, or other specialized provider

Workforce board, community college, college, or university

Lender, investor, or community development financial institution

Federal agency or SBA resource partner

None of these

Thinking about the most recent time you sought small business assistance, what happened?(Required)

Found the right resource and received useful assistance

Was referred and successfully connected to another resource

Received a referral but was not contacted or could not connect

Connected, but the resource did not fit the need

Could not identify the right resource

Could not meet eligibility or documentation requirements

Stopped because the process took too long or was too difficult

Have not sought assistance

Other

Which business-assistance topics are most important during the next 12–24 months?(Required)

Select up to 5 choices.

Business formation, registration, licensing, or permitting

Business strategy, operations, or financial management

Access to capital or financing readiness

Marketing, sales, e-commerce, or customer acquisition

Government contracting, certification, bidding, or compliance

Corporate supply chains or subcontracting

Bonding, insurance, legal, or risk management

Workforce recruiting, training, retention, or human resources

Technology, AI, cybersecurity, or digital systems

Exporting or interstate growth

Manufacturing, product development, or commercialization

Real estate, site selection, or facility expansion

Business continuity, disaster recovery, or resilience

Succession, acquisition, sale, or ownership transition

Peer networks, mentoring, or industry connections

Other

How would the business prefer to receive assistance or information?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

One-on-one counseling

Short virtual workshops or webinars

In-person workshops or multi-session cohorts

On-demand videos, guides, or templates

Peer groups or mentoring

Introductions to lenders, buyers, primes, or partners

Regional pop-ups or office hours

Email updates

Website search or self-service portal

Phone or live chat

Other

What would make Virginia’s business-support system easier to use?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

One clear starting point

Better explanation of which organization handles what

A named person who follows the issue through resolution

Warm referrals with confirmed follow-up

Fewer forms or repeated requests for the same information

Faster response times

More local or region-specific assistance

More industry-specific expertise

More evening, weekend, virtual, or multilingual options

Clearer eligibility and application guidance

More consistent communication after services are received

Other

What challenges, if any, has small businesses experienced when seeking assistance or navigating available resources?

Section G: Small business regulations and policy priorities

(Approx. 3-4 minutes to complete)

Which state or local government requirements create the most cost, delay, complexity, or uncertainty for your business?(Required)

Select up to 3 choices.

Business registration or renewals

Professional or occupational licensing

Local zoning, land use, inspections, or permitting

Taxes, fees, or reporting

Employment, wage, leave, or workplace requirements

Environmental, energy, or utility requirements

Government procurement registration, bidding, or compliance

Certification requirements

Industry-specific rules

Requirements are understandable and manageable

Not sure / not applicable

Other

Describe one action Virginia should take and the result that would show it worked.

What is your expected result or measure of success for that one action?

Section H: Experience with SBSD

(Approx. 1-2 minutes to complete)

Before receiving this survey, how familiar were you with SBSD?(Required)

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Had heard of SBSD but did not know what it offers

Had not heard of SBSD

Not sure

Which SBSD services has the business used during the past three years?(Required)

Select up to 7 choices.

Business counseling or technical assistance

Workshops, webinars, cohorts, or events

Virginia Business One Stop or business-information assistance

SWaM, DBE, SDV, or other certification services

Procurement, sourcing, buyer, or prime-contractor connections

VSBFA financing or lender connections

Referral to another business-support organization

Not sure

None

Other

Is there anything else SBSD or Commonwealth leaders should understand about the experience of running a small business in Virginia?

Section I: Additional business and ownership information

The following questions will help SBSD determine whether business needs and experiences differ by business size, ownership, and certification status. These questions are optional, and responses will be analyzed and reported only in aggregate. (Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

What best describes the business’s geographic footprint?

One Virginia location serving mostly a local area

One Virginia location serving customers across a region

Multiple locations within one Virginia region

Locations or regular operations in multiple Virginia regions

Virginia headquarters with substantial out-of-state or international customers

Home-based, mobile, virtual, or no fixed commercial location

What is the business’s current registration status with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)?

Registered and active

Registration submitted or in process

Not registered yet, but planning to register

Not registered and not currently planning to register

Not sure whether registration is required

Not applicable to this business or venture

Prefer not to answer

What is the business’s approximate gross annual revenue?

Pre-revenue / no revenue

Less than $50,000

$50,000–$99,999

$100,000–$249,999

$250,000–$499,999

$500,000–$999,999

$1 million–$4.99 million

$5 million–$9.99 million

$10 million or more

Prefer not to answer

Which certifications or designations does the business currently hold?

Virginia SWaM: Small

Virginia SWaM: Micro

Virginia SWaM: Women-owned

Virginia SWaM: Minority-owned

Virginia Service-Disabled Veteran-owned designation

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

Federal 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, HUBZone, or veteran-owned certification

Other state, local, or private-sector supplier-diversity certification

None, but interested in learning about certification

None, and not currently interested

Not sure

Prefer not to answer

Is the business at least 51% owned and controlled by any of the following?

Woman or women

Member(s) of a racial or ethnic minority group

Veteran(s)

Service-disabled veteran(s)

Person or people with disabilities

None of these

Prefer not to answer

How does the majority owner or ownership group identify by race or ethnicity?

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino/a/x

Middle Eastern or North African

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

White

Two or more races

Multiracial (two or more races)

Another race or ethnicity

Prefer not to answer

If you chose another race or ethnicity, please specify.

Section J: Optional contact permissions

(Less than 1 minute to complete)

Would you like SBSD to send you the assessment findings and occasional information about small-business programs, resources, and opportunities?

Yes

May SBSD or the Administration contact you to clarify your response or invite you to a follow-up discussion about small-business needs?

Yes

Thank You for Sharing Your Experience

Your response will help Virginia better understand what small businesses need to start, grow, compete, and thrive. SBSD will analyze responses from across the Commonwealth and share an aggregated summary after the assessment is complete.

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The 2026 Virginia Small Business Survey

2026 Virginia Small Business Survey

About You

Section A: About Your Business

Section B: Virginia's Business Climate, Strengths, and Barriers

Section C: Workforce & Talent Development

Section D: Access to capital and cash flow

Section E: Customers, markets, procurement, and technology

Section F: Navigating business-support resources

Section G: Small business regulations and policy priorities

Section H: Experience with SBSD

Section I: Additional business and ownership information

Section J: Optional contact permissions

Thank You for Sharing Your Experience

The 2026 Virginia
Small Business Survey