Investigating the effect of Entrepreneurs’ Characteristics on Financial Performance Considering the Mediating Role of Financial (Case Study: Managers of Startups in Mashhad City)

Sadeghi, Ghasem; Ghafourian Shagerdi, Amir; Behboodi, Omid

doi:10.22034/eir.2025.522852.1189

Investigating the effect of Entrepreneurs’ Characteristics on Financial Performance Considering the Mediating Role of Financial (Case Study: Managers of Startups in Mashhad City)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ghasem Sadeghi ¹

Amir Ghafourian Shagerdi ²

Omid Behboodi ³

¹ 3. Master of Business Administration, Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Imam Reza International University, Mashhad, Iran

² 1. Department of Accounting, Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Imam Reza International University, Mashhad, Iran

³ Department of Management, Toos Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran

10.22034/eir.2025.522852.1189

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of entrepreneurs' characteristics on financial performance, considering the mediating role of financial flexibility.

Method: In terms of purpose, the research is applied, and in terms of data collection, it is a survey-descriptive study. The statistical population included managers of growing businesses located in the Khorasan Science and Technology Park in the Mashhad area, of whom 90 individuals were selected using the convenience sampling method. The research instrument consisted of a questionnaire with 21 items for the independent variable components, a questionnaire with 13 items for the mediating variable, and a questionnaire with 10 items for the dependent variable, all using a five-point Likert scale. The validity and reliability of the instruments were examined and confirmed in this study.

Findings: Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS software. The results indicated that the research hypotheses were supported.

Conclusion: Financial flexibility plays a mediating role in the effect of entrepreneurs' characteristics on financial performance. Furthermore, entrepreneurs’ competency, financial knowledge, and risk tolerance significantly affect their financial flexibility.

Keywords

Competency

Financial Flexibility

Financial Knowledge

Financial Performance

Risk Tolerance

Subjects