Economic and financial snapshot of small Spanish family firms

• Published in: Revista de contabilidad 2019-01, Vol.22 (1), p.21-31
• Main Authors: Terrón-Ibáñez, Sara, Gómez-Miranda, María Elena, Miras-Rodríguez, María del Mar, Rodríguez-Ariza, Lázaro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Business cycles; Comparative analysis; Competition; Competitive advantage; Economic crisis; Economic growth; Family owned businesses; Productivity; Recessions; Small business; Success
• ISSN: 1138-4891
• DOI: 10.6018/rcsar.22.1.354281

The aim of this study is to determine whether there are statistically significant differences between small Spanish companies according to their family or non-family nature, in terms of their main economic and financial indicators. The study data analysed correspond to the years 2003, 2007 and 2013, which enabled us to examine whether the characteristics observed and any differences between these companies persisted during a period featuring three different economic scenarios. The study sample was composed of 21,192 small family firms and 4,449 small non-family firms. The results obtained show that, regardless of the national economic situation, there were statistically significant differences between the two types of companies for certain economic and financial indicators. We conclude that the family nature of a company has a negative impact on productivity, the number of employees and levels of investment and turnover. Moreover, family firms face higher costs of external financing than do non-family businesses.