Role of Business Incubation Centers in Growth of Small Businesses

Unemployment causes many socio-economic problems. One of the solution to this problem is private sector development. Experience of many countries including industrial economies show that small businesses have generated employment and contributed in economic growth. Small businesses have a very high rate of failure at their initial stage. Growth of these businesses requires promotion of entrepreneurship. This study attempts to highlight the role of business incubation centers for this purpose. Factors such as incubation centers physical infrastructure, provision of business assistance, management guidance and counselling, enabling environment and sound practices of incubation centers have led to survival and growth of many small businesses. This paper has defined the above factors in the form of services to be rendered by incubation centers and has highlighted their role on fostering entrepreneurship.Analysis of study shows how these services are perceived by its recipients. Result reveals that recipients deem incubator services ineffective. Furthermore, study introduces best practices and sound management mechanism to business incubation practitioners.