Micro-entrepreneurs today - results of a survey of owner-entrepreneurs regarding subjective success factors in German micro-enterprises

Reinhard Klöppel Jr. and Harald Stummer

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2015, vol. 9, issue 1, 37-53

Abstract: Micro-enterprises play a decisive role in Europe's economy. In Germany, almost 90% of all businesses - i.e., 3.2 million from a total of 3.6 million - are classified as this type of enterprise with a maximum of nine employees. Although SME research has generally increased during the last years, the majority of studies have involved the medium-sized enterprises and not the micro-enterprises. What comprises success and what are critical success factors for micro-enterprises? The present study examines 111 German micro-enterprises and determines self-reported critical success factors. Central factors were found to be work ethic and strong customer orientation; in addition, readiness to advertise and willingness to innovate. On the one hand, these conclusions can be seen as helpful approaches to for determining success for micro-entrepreneurs themselves being sustainably successful, on the other hand, it shall help to better understand microenterprises and necessary idiosyncrasy in management research.

Keywords: microenterprises; Germany; personal characteristics; entrepreneurs; SME research; customer orientation; readiness to advertise; willingness to innovate; critical success factors; CSFs; microentrepreneurship; owner entrepreneurs; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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