The success factors of necessity immigrant entrepreneurs: In search of a model

This study focuses on the success factors of necessity immigrant entrepreneurs. It proposes a profile for the necessity immigrant entrepreneur as well as for the opportunity immigrant entrepreneur. It clarifies the concept of success for immigrant entrepreneurs and suggests that the concept of survival is more appropriate for the necessity immigrant entrepreneurs and should mainly be measured by the age of the business, while the traditional concept of success is relevant for the opportunity immigrant entrepreneur and can be measured by the usual quantitative performance indicators. Based on different existing theories, the study suggests a theoretical explanation of the survival factors of necessity immigrant entrepreneurs. This contributed to propose a theoretical model of survival factors of necessity immigrant entrepreneurs. This model, which represents the major contribution of this study, suggests five categories of survival factors: ethno‐cultural factors, financial factors, managerial factors, psycho‐behavioral factors, and institutional factors.