Key Drivers of Sustainability in Rural Home-Based Businesses Supported by Financial Assistance in Golestan Province

Articles in Press

Authors

1 Researcher in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Golestan Governorate, Golestan, Iran.

2 Women's entrepreneurship researcher and art student in education in Golestan Province,, Iran.

3 Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Department Of Public Administration, Gorgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran.

5 Department of Business Management, University of Science and Arts, Yazd, Iran.

10.22069/jead.2026.23715.1912

Abstract

The sustainability of rural home-based businesses is recognized as an effective strategy for poverty alleviation, economic empowerment of households, and prevention of rural migration. Achieving this sustainability requires precise identification of key drivers influencing the utilization of support facilities. This study aims to identify the critical factors contributing to the stabilization of rural home-based businesses supported by financial aid in Golestan Province. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and a futures studies approach, the research targeted two main groups: business and entrepreneurship experts, and rural home-based business owners who had received support. A total of 50 participants were selected purposefully based on professional criteria. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-developed questionnaire, derived from 20 final indicators identified through the Delphi method. The matrix-based questionnaire assessed interrelations among indicators using a scoring scale from zero to three. Data were recorded in Excel and analyzed structurally using MICMAC software. Findings revealed that three internal factors—“easy access to local microfinance funds,” “flexible repayment plans aligned with seasonal income,” and “role modeling of successful villagers” each with a score of 586, had the highest direct impact. Among external factors, “facilitating access to bank loans” (score: 544), “targeted allocation of credits,” and “establishment of collective product dispatch centers” (score: 527) were identified as the most influential. Based on these results, strengthening local financial institutions, designing seasonal repayment models, and developing marketing and cultural infrastructure are essential for the long-term sustainability of rural home-based businesses.

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Journal of Studies in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Agricultural Development

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 April 2026

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