US Latino Small Business Survey by Camino Financial: Q4 2020

This Q4 2020 edition of the Latino Small Business Credit Survey marks exactly one year since Camino Financial released its first Quarterly Survey. We take this opportunity to review that year and highlight the effects of 2020 and the impact of COVID on access to credit by Latino-Owned Businesses (LOBs).

LOBs were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in 2020

Lenders drastically slowed non-government relief loans in the second and third quarters of 2020, instead focusing their efforts on PPP and other forms of government relief. A special COVID-19 Latino Impact Survey conducted after the first round of PPP in August showed:

PROFOUND IMPACT:

62% of LOBs generated less revenue than before COVID

NECESSITY OF EDUCATION:

Most LOBs were discouraged from seeking additional funding or relief, with only 46% even applying

However LOBs were 6.6x more likely to obtain relief funds when provided education and support

Haves & Have-Nots are emerging and diverging among LOBs

LOBs operating in Low to Moderate-Income (LMI) areas are showing a growing revenue gap compared to LOBs operating in non-LMI areas. This is due to lenders in adverse financial periods exhibiting positive bias by preferring to lend to larger businesses with longer operational history and higher credit scores.

AVERAGE LATINO SELF-REPORTED REVENUE BY LMI

Recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration

LOBs are optimistic, tenacious, and flexible, but their regrowth is hindered by structural funding challenges. Overcoming these obstacles is critical to the reinvention of the Latino-Owned Business community, thus, we recommend the following guidance:

Define “micro businesses” and design loan programs around this large cohort: Even when LOBs apply and qualify for PPP or other government loans, they often do not receive the full amount requested, and must look to private lenders to bridge the difference.

More than 85% of LOBs earned less than $300k in annual revenue, roughly half the size relative to the national average of small businesses

Create simple onboarding and training programs: In addition, lenders must remove barriers to apply for loans and deployment of funds, especially in market segments least served by lenders.

Education and training raises loan approval rates by 6.6x according to our annual credit survey

Target relief in LMI areas: In order for lenders to gain confidence in lending to more sectors, the Biden administration needs to focus on recovery for businesses in LMI areas.

87% of LOBs operate in LMI areas

View other quarters

Q3 2020

Summary:
This quarterly issue follows the impact of the pandemic on Latin-Owned Small Businesses: their chances to get PPP, how much operational cash they have, their resiliency, and how much they’re recovering.

Q2 2020

Summary:
Immigrants and undocumented business owners have been disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to credit and access to stimulus programs in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

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Camino Financial’s purpose is to invest in opportunity, believe in ideas and back minority-owned small businesses. By unlocking capital for these underserved micro entrepreneurs, we enable economic growth within overlooked American communities.

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