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The Census Is Complete—But the Work Continues.

Thank you to every Black-owned business that took the census. Your input is helping us build a stronger, more connected ecosystem for entrepreneurs across Birmingham. Together, we’re turning data into action.
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BIRMINGHAM BLACK CENSUS
SUMMARY REPORT

Through this project, we intentionally cast a wide net. We sought data from business owners across stages, industries, education levels, customer types, etc. Our goal was to understand what doing business in this city looks like for this segment of the entrepreneurial community. The key findings of the data analysis have been divided into four sections:

  • Industry
  • Revenue and Financing
  • Workforce
  • Challenges

View the summary results below. To view the full report, click here.

If you are interested in doing a census in your community, please download the toolkit for step-by-step details and resources.

The snapshots below show how Birmingham’s Black-owned businesses are distributed across industries, how revenue is concentrated, and how likely businesses in each sector are to employ full-time staff.

Table 1. Industry Overview: No. of Businesses, Revenue and Full-Time Employee Utilization

Disclaimer: Throughout this report N=means actual number of respondents.

BIRMINGHAM BLACK CENSUS SUMMARY REPORT –
KEY FINDINGS INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

The snapshots below show how Birmingham’s Black-owned businesses are distributed across industries, how revenue is concentrated, and how likely businesses in each sector are to employ full-time staff.

Table 1. Industry Overview: No. of Businesses, Revenue and Full-Time Employee Utilization

% of industry Businesses with Full-Time Employees

% of Industry Businesses Earning Above $500K

BUSINESS DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS

These statistics show the demographics across the businesses surveyed in the report.

Table 2. Demographic Statistics at a Glance Metric Value

1A Shannon Index of 2.66 on a scale of 0–3.30 means that while our city supports a broad range of industries (N=27), some sectors like Professional Services are more dominant. There’s room to increase diversification, especially in underrepresented sectors like Technology, Wholesale, or Utilities.

BUSINESS DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS

The overview includes years of business, annual revenue, industry, location, and employee numbers.

Table 6. Businesses by Years in Business

BUSINESS DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS

Review the number of businesses categorized by industry.

Table 11. Businesses by Industry

* This Industry category includes event and other similar rental businesses
BUSINESS DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS
Review the number of businesses categorized by industry.

REVENUE AND FINANCING

  • Sole proprietorships: Average revenue is significantly lower than that of LLCs, B-Corps, C-Corps, and partnerships (p<0.05).
  • LLCs: Higher revenue than sole proprietors but lower than B-Corps and C-Corps (p<0.05).
  • B-Corporations: This is the highest revenue of any group, significantly above sole proprietors, LLCs, and partnerships (p<0.05). Caution: only 3 B-Corps responded, so results may not generalize. This legal ownership status was established in Alabama in 2021.
  • C-Corporations: Outperform sole proprietors, LLCs, and partnerships, but trail the small B-Corp subsample (p<0.05).
  • Partnerships: Sit between sole proprietors and the corporate forms: higher than the former, lower than B-Corps (p<0.05).

Table 19. Legal Ownership of Businesses by Annual Revenue

Businesses owned by men report higher average annual revenue than those owned by women.
This gap is statistically significant, meaning it is very unlikely to be due to chance (p<0.05).

23. Owner’s Gender by Annual Revenue

The annual revenue change from younger to middle-aged owners, and again from middle-aged to senior owners, is statistically significant (p<0.05). Older owners tend to run businesses with higher revenue.

  • Under 35: Businesses in this group earn the least.
  • 35 to 64: Revenue rises for mid-career owners but still trails the oldest group.
  • 65 and older: These owners lead in annual revenue.

Table 24. Owner’s Age by Annual Revenue

The annual revenue change from younger to middle-aged owners, and again from middle-aged to senior
owners, is statistically significant (p<0.05). Older owners tend to run businesses with higher revenue.

  • Under 35: Businesses in this group earn the least.
  • 35 to 64: Revenue rises for mid-career owners but still trails the oldest group.
  • 65 and older: These owners lead in annual revenue.
  • B2B: Businesses that regularly serve corporate clients earn more than those that never sell to businesses.
  • B2C: Businesses that rely mainly on direct consumers or walk-in or retail customers report the lowest revenues in our sample.
  • Nonprofit organizations: Businesses that regularly work with nonprofits are associated with higher annual revenue compared with those that never target this sector.
  • Government agencies (including all federal, state, or local government): Businesses who frequently work with public sectors earn.

Table 24. Owner’s Age by Annual Revenue

Table 26. Current Customer Type by Annual Revenue

NOTES: Percentages show the proportion of businesses within the revenue band that say each group is a customer.

Because rms may serve more than one group, row totals can exceed 100%.

These graphics helps illustrate the revenue within each sector, whether large or small earnings.

Table 35. Businesses Earning Less than $50K by Industry

% Total is provided as per the total number of businesses i.e. (543/1149)*100=47.3%

Table 34. Businesses Earning Above $500K by Industry

* %Total is provided as per the total number of businesses i.e. (62/1149)*100=5.4%

WORKFORCE NUMBERS

These findings emphasize the way in which workforce configurations are influenced both by internal drivers
and the amount of planning, resources, and formalization that each company has in place.

Table 38. Businesses by Number of Employees

Figure 17. Distribution of Businesses by Employee Type

KEY INSIGHTS INTO CHALLENGES

Birmingham businesses face distinct challenges that vary by industry, location, and business maturity, with costs being the primary barrier across most sectors (affecting over 60% of businesses). The data reveals that challenges evolve as businesses grow – startups prioritize costs and financing, while mature firms struggle more with talent and facilities – and that owner education level significantly influences which barriers they perceive as most critical.

Costs are the top barrier
for most businesses.

Competition and Crime are consistently low-ranked overall. However, 83.3% of businesses, in the “Other Industry Sector” cite Competition as a top problem. Note: See Table 1 for “Other Industry Sector.”

Certain industries have unique challenge spikes:

Business age shapes challenge priorities:

Owner education affects what challenges matter most:

Owners with high
school or less prioritize
costs most exclusively.

Owners with Bachelor’s and
Post Graduate rate HR/Talent
and Financing more highly
(HR/Talent peaks at 100% for
Post Graduate level).

Owners with Bachelor’s and
Post Graduate rate HR/Talent
and Financing more highly
(HR/Talent peaks at 100% for
Post Graduate level).

Take Action.

Anyone can find a reason not to take the survey census. But by sharing your voice, you’re helping to build a stronger, more connected future for Black businesses in Birmingham.
Take the Census

Your Data.

The data you provide through the Birmingham Black Business Census will be used responsibly to create meaningful change for Black-owned businesses in our city. By collecting information on revenue ranges, industries, number of employees, and overall economic impact, we’ll be able to develop a clear, data-driven understanding of YOUR needs.

How the data will be used

Tailored Support

We will analyze the data to identify which businesses need specific assistance, ensuring that resources, programs, and support are directed where they will make the most impact.

Informed Decision-Making

The data will allow us and our partners to talk about the market size, apply and allocate resources effectively, and determine the scope and need for services that will help businesses grow.

Building The Future

The insights gained will shape future initiatives, including the development of Birmingham’s Black Business Center, which will focus on fostering economic growth and ensuring equitable opportunities for Black entrepreneurs.

Amplifying Your Voice

Armed with reliable data, our partners are able to advocate for policies, investments, and support that are tailored to the real needs of Black-owned businesses, ensuring your voice is heard.

Start now making an impact on the future of Birmingham's Black businesses.

The Benefits. 

For Small Business Owners.

 

By participating in the Birmingham Black Business Census, you’re ensuring that your voice is heard and counted.
1.
Be Seen and Supported

The data you provide helps craft resources tailored to your specific needs, increasing your chances of success.

2.
Access to Resources

Your participation opens doors to potential funding, programs, and support that can elevate your business.

3.
Strengthen the Community

By joining the census, you’re helping build a sense of community with other Black entrepreneurs, reducing feelings of isolation and creating opportunities for collaboration.

4.
Contribute to Birmingham’s Future

You’ll be playing a direct role in Birmingham’s growth, ensuring Black businesses are part of the city’s progress and prosperity.

5.
Long-Term Impact

Your participation helps improve the business landscape, giving you access to future opportunities and allowing you to say you contributed to Birmingham’s success.

For Business Support Organizations.

 

Participating in the census gives support organizations the chance to make a lasting impact on Birmingham’s Black business community. 
1.
Data-Drive Programs

With accurate information on Black-owned businesses, you can develop programs that directly respond to real needs, attracting more clients and increasing your effectiveness.

2.
Increase Reach and Impact

Gain access to new businesses and clients, diversifying your audience and expanding your ability to serve.

3.
Access Centralized Data

A centralized space with business data removes barriers, making it easier to inform decisions, track progress, and communicate your organization's value.

4.
Strengthen Your Role

Position your organization as a vital, cooperative force in the ecosystem by actively contributing to and benefiting from the census data.

Black businesses count in Birmingham.

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