Trade credit: a real option for bootstrapping small firms

Abstract

This study uses a real options framework to predict small firm bootstrapping behavior with regard to trade credit discounts. Findings from a sample of 606 small firms suggest their managers place high value on the ability to adjust their decisions over time in response to firm-specific changes in (1) the uncertainty they face; and (2) the irreversibility of their decisions. The insights provided by this study can help scholars and small firm managers better understand how trade discount strategies should be analyzed with respect to other sources of bootstrap and long-term capital.

Keywords:

• bootstrap finance
• real options
• trade credit discount
• small firm

Acknowledgements

A version of this paper was presented at the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference in Chapel Hill, NC. The authors are grateful to Robert Cressy, Joakim Winborg and Alicia Robb for their constructive guidance. All errors remain our own.

Notes

1. We thank an anonymous reviewer for suggesting this possibility for future research.