Franchising and entrepreneurship : exploring the perceptions and experiences of first-time business owners.
Date
2008
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Abstract
Entrepreneurship is vital to any economy, more so in those looking to develop their small
business sectors. Growth of the South African small business sector is being hampered by
a lack of entrepreneurs that have the necessary capacity to initiate significant levels of
new venture creation. In this study the franchising concept is looked at as means of
developing and nurturing such entrepreneurial capacity in those with no entrepreneurial
experience. A qualitative investigation is conducted amongst a sample of first-time
franchisees with no previous business ownership experience, with the intention of
determining the extent of their development as entrepreneurs through the course of their
franchise ownership. The results suggest that franchise ownership does result in the
enhancement of entrepreneurial capacity in those with no prior experience. This enhanced
capacity is also seen to be transferable to environments outside of the franchise system.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.
Keywords
Theses--Development studies.