Sources of Capital and Debt Structure in Small Firms

Chenchuramaiah T. Bathala, Oswald D. Bowlin and William P. Dukes
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Chenchuramaiah T. Bathala: Cleveland State University
Oswald D. Bowlin: Texas Tech University
William P. Dukes: Texas Tech University

Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, 2004, vol. 9, issue 1, 29-50

Abstract: In this paper we examine the relationship between ownership differences and small firms’ financial policies using a survey of U.S. companies. The study finds that financial policies differ according to the type of ownership (private versus public) and by the ownership differences (family-owned, closely-held, or widely-held) within the private firms. The differences are in the ownership concentration, relative importance of various sources of capital, debt characteristics (sources of debt financing, debt maturity, and debt cost). A multiple regression equation estimated in the paper provides evidence relating to cross-sectional variations in debt ratios of small firms. The paper offers information asymmetry, illiquidity, and agency cost explanations for the observed differences in ownership and financial policies of small firms.

Keywords: Capital Sources; Access to Capital; Small Business; Small Firm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G21 G32 M13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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