Local Business Surveys

What this survey was about

Our Local Business Survey was a grassroots effort to understand what small, independent businesses in DC think about Bitcoin, from farmers market stands to single-owner shops.

Just as important, the survey gave us a practical way to start real conversations. Instead of leading with a pitch, we led with questions, listened carefully, and learned how businesses actually operate day-to-day.

Every response was collected in person through field outreach, including farmers markets and door-to-door visits across DC.

Goals of the effort

• Spark genuine conversations with local business owners and operators.
• Understand local needs around payments and business savings.
• Evaluate barriers to adoption (technical, practical, and cultural).
• Measure awareness so we can tailor educational support to real needs.

Survey results

Below is a snapshot of our latest available survey data (49 responses):

• Biggest payment issue: 31 respondents cited high fees.
• Savings/investment posture: 27 respondents said they do not really save.
• Bitcoin familiarity: 32 of 49 said they either know a little (16), heard of it (9), or not at all (11); 13 reported higher familiarity (very knowledgeable or own some).
• Acceptance readiness: 34 respondents had never thought about accepting Bitcoin.
• What would increase adoption most: low transaction fees (17) and hands-on training (16) were top themes.
• Follow-up interest: 31 respondents asked for more information.

From insights to action

This was a one-off initiative, but the findings continue to shape our work. These insights directly inform how we design local business education and onboarding support:

• if businesses need confidence, we focus on simple, practical training;
• if fee pressure is the pain point, we emphasize tools that lower payment friction;
• if interest is present but knowledge is low, we prioritize approachable educational content first.

Why this mattered

Our mission is rooted in listening before leading. This survey helped us:

• identify practical barriers that prevent businesses from adopting Bitcoin;
• understand what business owners prioritize most in day-to-day operations;
• turn field conversations into clearer, more useful onboarding support.

Thank you to everyone who participated

To every local business owner who took time to share feedback: thank you. Your input helped us better understand the real challenges on the ground and how to build better support for Bitcoin adoption in DC.