The Survey of Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (SMOBE) was conducted in conjunction with the Survey of Women-Owned Business Enterprises (SWOBE). The SMOBE and SWOBE provided basic economic data on businesses owned by Blacks, persons of Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian, or Pacific Islander descent, persons of Hispanic or Latin American ancestry, and women. Included are all nonfarm businesses filing 1997 tax forms as individual proprietorships, partnerships, and any type of corporation, and with receipts of $1,000 or more. A firm selected into the sample was mailed one of two questionnaires. The Census Bureau sent the MB-1 questionnaire to partnerships and corporations, or to sole proprietorships that submitted joint tax returns where, based on the administrative records, it was probable that the husband and wife were of different races. The businesses were asked to report the percentage of stock ownership of the business by gender, race and ethnicity. The MB-2 questionnaire was used for sole proprietors and self-employed individuals who were "single filers" or who filed joint tax returns where, based on administrative records, there was a low probability that the husband and wife were of different races. The businesses were asked to report the gender, race and ethnicity of the primary owner(s) of the business. The form included an equal male/female ownership option for the collection of business owners by gender.

1997 MB-1 Form [<1.0 MB]

1997 MB-2 Form [<1.0 MB]