Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine if and how entrepreneurial assistance programs, through guided preparation, affect start-up success. Design/methodology/approach –This study uses Heckman's two-stage sample selection model to predict the effect of contact and interactions...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in factors influencing use of entrepreneurial assistance programs by male and female entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach – Data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics I are used to determine drivers of assistance...