Identifying the core values that improve the attractiveness of small business owners to financial lenders

Small firms account for 50% of the gross domestic product and the majority of new jobs created (Coleman, 2000). Bankers have the capital resources to lend to small business owners and can serve as an excellent resource for small business owners in the development and growth of their businesses (Binks & Ennew, 2000). This study attempts to identify the necessary core values of small business owners from a lender's perspective by posing the research question: What core values affect the willingness of financial lenders to provide funding for small business owners? The results of the study are categorized into three levels of importance using the Malcolm Baldridge Criteria for Performance and specifically the 11 core values and concepts.