Purpose – The present study aims to examine the relationship between small enterprise start-up preparatory factors and increases in sales and operating profits, which are business performances utilizing the National Survey of Actual Conditions of Small Enterprises conducted by the Small Enterprise, Market Service. Research design, data, and methodology – Start-up preparatory factors were divided into six types; business type, start-up history, start-up motives, preparatory periods, and start-up funds to figure out the relationship between sales and operating profits with regression analyses. Regression analyses were conducted based on the foregoing with a view to identifying the effects of start-up preparatory factors on business performance. Results – Since start-up preparatory factors generally affect business performance, it was identified that start-up preparatory factors importantly affect operating profits and sales, which are business performances. However, start-up preparatory periods and the implementation of education among preparatory activities were shown to have no effect on business performances, and the effect of the ratio of start-up fund provided by the founder on operating profits was shown to be not significant. Conclusions – The present study comprehensively examined those start-up preparatory factors that have positive effects on business performances after start-up. The present study is meaningful in that it can provide positive implications for efficient start-up of small enterprises hereafter.

• Seung-Hee Kim(Professor, Kangwon National university, Korea.)
• Young-Ki Kim(Department of Policy Research, General Manager, Small Enterprise and Market Service, Korea.)
• Shin-Hea Choi(Department of Policy Research, Senior Researcher, Small Enterprise and Market Service, Korea.) Corresponding author