Capital Acquisition Attitudes: Gender and Experience

Abstract

In this research we provide evidence on small firm owners’ attitudes and approaches to capital acquisition. The most surprising finding is their general dissatisfaction with the capital acquisition process. Yet we found no evidence that this dissatisfaction translates into poor performance. Our analysis indicates that male-owned businesses were older, more likely to be technology-based, and bigger in terms of sales and assets. Male respondents were also better educated. We found no significant results for the firms owned by more experienced respondents. However, more experienced owners and male respondents were more likely to look to outside resources, like governments, to provide guidance and assistance in the capital acquisition process. Implications from the results can be used by owners to better understand capital acquisition decisions and to develop better capital acquisition, by government agencies that develop public policy on small firms, and consultants that assist small firms with capital acquisition.