Success Factors of Lebanese Small Businesses in the United States

Small business is the heartbeat of the U.S. economy, the primary source of jobs, and the backbone of the nations well-being. In order to help the American economy recover from the recession, the country urgently needs to dramatically boost its rate of small business creation. This dissertation studied Lebanese small businesses in the United States, focusing on the factors associated with their success, in terms of sustainability and annual after-tax income, and the perception of their contribution to society and the economy. A quantitative analysis of data gathering from 62 survey participants revealed that the success of Lebanese-owned small businesses was attributed to their human resources, operational management, management attributes, economic health and government regulations, and owners personal traits. All these factors interacted to generate higher-dollar orders and helped businesses sustainability. In addition, this study might also help newcomers to the field seeking to develop their own business plans. Other factors pertaining to the success of Lebanese small business owners were also examined and discussed within the framework of minority and enclave theories.