The Effect of Cash Flow Problems and Resource Intermingling on Small Business Recovery and Resilience After a Natural Disaster

J Fam Econ Issues. 2021;42(1):203-214. doi: 10.1007/s10834-020-09710-y. Epub 2020 Sep 17.

Abstract

This study investigated the implications that cash flow problems and resource intermingling between the family and the business had on small business recovery and resilience after a natural disaster. This study contributed to the literature by studying the impact of cash flow problems and resource intermingling on small businesses in two separate periods: right after the natural disaster (period 1) and eight years after the disaster (period 2). Period 1 determined whether the business was in operation directly following Hurricane Katrina. Period 2 investigated success of the small business after Katrina (compared to pre-Katrina success). Results showed that cash flow problems and resource intermingling did not affect operational status directly following Katrina, but did play a role in business resilience in the long run.

Keywords: Bootstrapping and resource; Cash flow problems; Intermingling; Natural disaster; Recovery and resilience; Small businesses.