Small Business Management Assistance: Needs and Sources

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a nationwide survey of 793 small business owners and managers regarding their management assistance needs and sources. Of 15 business decision areas investigated, the greatest perceived need for management assistance was found to be in the area of long-term business planning. Employee relations and inventory management were perceived to be those decision areas in which the least assistance was needed. Of 14 management assistance sources investigated, the most used source was the accountant or CPA; the least-used sources were government-sponsored programs and university-sponsored consulting programs.