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Distinguishing economically from legally formal firms: Targeting business support to entrepreneurs in South Africa's townships

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bradford, WD
Published in: Journal of Small Business Management
January 1, 2007

Although the government of South Africa (SA) has formally adopted a policy of proactive support of entrepreneurship, providing business assistance to all of its entrepreneurs is beyond SA's financial and human resource capabilities. This study utilizes the results of an in-depth survey of entrepreneurs in SA's townships to find: (1) The business and owner traits that predict revenues and job creation among the township entrepreneurs, (2) The key issues that challenge township entrepreneurs; and (3) What the answers to these issues imply about the appropriate content and recipients of business assistance to township entrepreneurs. A distinction is helpful in framing this study's approach. In SA, registered (licensed) businesses are legally formal firms. In contrast, economically formal firms have institutionalized processes that lead to success as a profit-making firm. We use this distinction in our analysis of the data and framing of the implications for business assistance strategy in SA. © 2007, International Council for Small Business.

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Published In

Journal of Small Business Management

DOI

EISSN

1540-627X

ISSN

0047-2778

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Volume

45

Issue

1

Start / End Page

94 / 115

Related Subject Headings

  • Business & Management
  • 35 Commerce, management, tourism and services
  • 1505 Marketing
  • 1503 Business and Management
  • 1502 Banking, Finance and Investment
 

Citation

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Bradford, W. D. (2007). Distinguishing economically from legally formal firms: Targeting business support to entrepreneurs in South Africa's townships. Journal of Small Business Management, 45(1), 94–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2007.00201.x
Bradford, W. D. “Distinguishing economically from legally formal firms: Targeting business support to entrepreneurs in South Africa's townships.” Journal of Small Business Management 45, no. 1 (January 1, 2007): 94–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2007.00201.x.
Bradford, W. D. “Distinguishing economically from legally formal firms: Targeting business support to entrepreneurs in South Africa's townships.” Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 45, no. 1, Jan. 2007, pp. 94–115. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1540-627X.2007.00201.x.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Small Business Management

DOI

EISSN

1540-627X

ISSN

0047-2778

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Volume

45

Issue

1

Start / End Page

94 / 115

Related Subject Headings

  • Business & Management
  • 35 Commerce, management, tourism and services
  • 1505 Marketing
  • 1503 Business and Management
  • 1502 Banking, Finance and Investment