Utilité de l’accompagnement entrepreneurial dans le cadre du microcrédit en France : une analyse du point de vue des bénéficiaires

In this paper, we evaluate the perceived utility of business support services based on the results of an in-depth qualitative survey conducted among business founders financed and supported by a French microfinance institution that focuses on social integration. Overall, business support services appear very useful, both in the start-up phase of the business and during its development. However, behind the high satisfaction rates there lies a difference of perception among the beneficiaries. While some business founders believe that this support is necessary, even essential, others find that it is of more limited utility, that it has no major impact on their business, or misperceive the benefit of this support. We then identify five business support paths: a ?highly beneficial? path, a ?localized significant utility? path, a ?localized marginal utility? path, a ?pleasant-social? path, and a ?bad experience? path. In order to further refine our results, we used a multiple correspondence analysis, showing that the perceived utility of the support depends, among other things, on the social characteristics of the beneficiaries. JEL: G21, L26