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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Susan Baines, Emeritus Professor Jane Wheelock
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The purpose of this paper is to contribute to better understanding of the concerns, needs and achievements of the 'business family', which may include a very wide variety of formal and informal relationships between family and business. Some of the results of a study of 200 micro-businesses, defined as businesses with up to nine employees, in the business services in the north-east and the south-east of England are reported here. Although the northern and southern location had very different socio-economic characteristics, patterns of family support for businesses were extremely similar. In both locations, there was extensive family involvement, in particular the involvement of spouses. Family labour could be a vital resource without which a struggling business would fail to survive but the extent of self-exploitation and the sacrifices made by some individuals should not be glossed over. Employment growth was a goal for only one in four of the businesses interviewed. Case study material confirmed survey findings that growth seeking business owners were the most likely to seek out partnerships with non-family members and to participate actively in non-family networks.
Author(s): Baines S, Wheelock J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Small Business Journal
Year: 1998
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 16-35
Print publication date: 01/10/1998
ISSN (print): 0266-2426
ISSN (electronic): 1741-2870
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0266242698171001
DOI: 10.1177/0266242698171001
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