Entrepreneurship: a full time or a part time job?

The decision to start a business can be influenced by a wide range of factors. Several studies show the characteristics of full-time and part-time entrepreneurship, but few show the actual comparison of the two concepts. The aim of this research is to analyze the differences between the two forms of entrepreneurship from two perspectives: the current entrepreneurs' perspective and the students' perspective, in order to help people decide which form of entrepreneurship is the best. Based on qualitative and quantitative research, the results showed that the most important factors that influence the final decision to start a business are work experience, education, financial factor, work and time flexibility, and lifestyle. The SPSS results and t-tests on the students' character traits show that there are no significant differences among four of them, except for the trait "autonomy".

Keywords

entrepreneurship, full-time, part-time, experience, education

JEL Classification

J22, J23, J28, L26, M13

References

Acs, Z. J., Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. E. (2013). The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 41(4), 757–774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-013-9505-9

Acs, Z. J., Braunerhjelm, P., Audretsch, D. B., & Carlsson, B. (2009). The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 32(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9157-3

Andersen, S., & Nielsen, K. M. (2012). Ability or finances as constraints on entrepreneurship? Evidence from survival rates in a natural experiment. The Review of Financial Studies, 25(12), 3684–3710. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhs107

Asante, E. A., Danquah, B., Oduro, F., Affum-Osei, E., Ankrah Twumasi, M., Azunu, C., & Li, C. (2022). Entrepreneurial career persistence of hybrid entrepreneurs: The opposing moderating roles of wage work-to-entrepreneurship enrichment and entrepreneurship-to-wage work enrichment. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 132, Article 103660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103660

Carter, S., Tagg, S., & Dimitratos, P. (2004). Beyond portfolio entrepreneurship: Multiple income sources in small firms. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 16(6), 481–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985620410001693008

Folta, T. B., Delmar, F., & Wennberg, K. (2010). Hybrid entrepreneurship. Management Science, 56(2), 253–269. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1090.1094

Hyytinen, A., & Ilmakunnas, P. (2007). Entrepreneurial aspirations: Another form of job search? Small Business Economics, 29(1–2), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-005-4783-5

Klepper, S. (2001). Employee startups in high-tech industries. Industrial and Corporate Change, 10(3), 639–674. https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/10.3.639

Mérida, A. L., & Rocha, V. (2021). It’s about time: The timing of entrepreneurial experience and the career dynamics of university graduates. Research Policy, 50(1), Article 104135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.104135

Montanye, J. A. (2006). Entrepreneurship. The Independent Review, 10(4), 547–569.

Parker, S. C. (1997). The effects of risk on self-employment. Small Business Economics, 9(6), 515–522. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007919805306

Petrova, K. (2011). Part-time entrepreneurship, learning and ability. Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 12(1), 64–75.

Reynolds, P. D., Bygrave, W. D., Autio, E., Cox, L. W., & Hay, M. (2004). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: 2003 executive report. Babson College; Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; London Business School.

Thorgren, S., Sirén, C., Nordström, C., & Wincent, J. (2016). Hybrid entrepreneurs’ second-step choice: The nonlinear relationship between age and intention to enter full-time entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 5, 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2015.12.001

Tucker, I. B. (1988). Entrepreneurs and public-sector employees: The role of achievement motivation and risk in occupational choice. The Journal of Economic Education, 19(3), 259–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220485.1988.10845270

Urbig, D., Reif, K., Lengsfeld, S., & Procher, D. V. (2021). Promoting or preventing entrepreneurship? Employers’ perceptions of and reactions to employees’ entrepreneurial side jobs. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 172, Article 121032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121032

von Mises, L. (1998). Human action: A treatise on economics (4th rev. ed.). Foundation for Economic Education.