Wisconsin Entrepreneurial Climate Study, 1992-1993

This study examines people's perceptions of the entrepreneurial process, the various sources of help and hindrance that beginning businesses encounter, the impact of new businesses on the economy, and the experiences of individuals involved in creating new businesses. Representative adults in Wisconsin were asked for their opinions regarding entrepreneurs and business opportunity, and were also asked about their own backgrounds and careers, and about any entrepreneurs in their own families or social networks. Individuals identified as entrepreneurs during the representative adult interview were asked about their knowledge of public and private sources of assistance for small business, their reactions to the state and local infrastructures, sources of financing they may have employed, start-up problems, products or services offered, and the nature of ownership of their business. Owners and managers of new firms that were identified by new unemployment insurance filings were asked about past and current sales, job creation, out-of-state exports, current management focus, and future plans for their businesses.