ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Several business collapses due to the incapability of the proprietor of such
business in exhibiting entrepreneurial traits in their business endeavor. This is
evident in most of the small and medium scale business failure in Nigeria. In lieu
of this, the study sought to investigate and evaluate the effects of entrepreneurial
characteristics on business performance with the case study of selected small
scale business in Offa Local Government in Kwara State, Nigeria. Additionally, it
identified certain factors which contribute to entrepreneurial characteristics
among selected small startup business in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 109
questionnaires was distributed, the study made use of survey method, hypothesis
was tested to guide the study and the responses of this research were numerically
quantified, tabulated and analyzed using regression analysis via SPSS application
package. The results of this study revealed that Risk taking and Innovativeness
are the major factor that affects the performance of selected startup business in
Offa local government. The study further recommends that selected
entrepreneurial firms should take the issue of entrepreneurial characteristics
serious as this will have a significant effect on the sustainability and survival of
small and medium startup business in Offa local government.