Barriers to Growth: How High Performing African American Owned Businesses Overcome Them

Even high performing African-American businesses are confronted with barriers to business growth. It is important to our communities, labor force and the economy that African American owned businesses grow, scale and stay sustainable. This research project reveals the barriers that are faced by high performing African American versus non-minority owned businesses and how they overcome those barriers in order to achieve growth and stay sustainable. Racial discrimination, gender bias and accessing capital are barriers that still exist. However, our findings indicate that high performing African American and women owned businesses overcome these barriers by relying on diversity initiatives, relationships and faith/prayer. The implications for practitioners are that diversity initiatives are critical to leveling the playing ground for African American businesses. In addition, African American businesses must also continue to focus on building relationships as well as utilizing faith and prayer during the stru...