Strategies Used by Military Spouse Small Businesses During a Military Relocation

Abstract

There are over 615,000 women military spouses and 1,786 known military spouse business owners who relocate every 2 to 3 years to follow their active duty spouse. The research problem addressed was the lack of strategies military spouse small business owners used to sustain their business during a mandatory military relocation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies 5 women military spouse small business owners, located at military installations in the Midlands and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina, used to sustain their businesses during a relocation. The sampling method used was census sampling. The systems theory was the conceptual framework of this research supported by sustainability, strategic management, and event system theories. In-depth semistructured interviews and archival documentations were the chosen methods of data collection. A CADQAS software was used to organize the data and content analysis method was to analyze the data gathered from the interviews and documents. The emergent themes were small businesses, work-life balance, business finance, barrier to business ownership, initiatives to support military spouses, and personal finances quality of life.