A Priority Analysis of the Problems of Small Business Managers

Much has been written about problems of operating a small business. However, most of this work has been qualitative, and there has been little empirical analysis of assertions and conclusions presented in this literature. This paper presents a pilot study of small business managers' perceptions of the relative importance of decision problems confronting them. Problems which result from externally imposed regulatory or financing requirements dominate the attention of most small business operators — perhaps to the detriment of actually operating the firm.