Environmental and Ownership Characteristics of Small Businesses And their Impact on Development

摘要

Three neighborhood factors (crime, appearance, and transportation accessi- bility), and other moderating influences (owner and firm characteristics), are correlated to a small business owner's expectations of future firm growth. Survey data from 1,351 small businesses From the city and county of San Francisco were used. Crime and nigh- borhood appearance have a significant (p=0.01) correlation to the growth expectations of small business owners, but these two factors explain only a very small percentage (about 1 percent) of the variance in growth expectations. The ethnicity of the owner, the legal Structure of the firm, and firm type and Size were also factors that significantly Influenced the owners' expectations of growth in their small businesses. Recommendations for changes in public Policy are offered.