The Effects of Social Network Factors on Entrepreneurship Development of Home-Based Businesses: An Investigation of the Mediating Role of Social Network Characteristics (Evidences from Food Industry)

Nowadays, home-based businesses are considered as a vital and crucial section of economic activities in developed countries. In terms of job creation, and innovation in offering products or services, home-based businesses can induce extensive diversity and variation to community and economy of a state. Furthermore, home-based businesses are an apt starting point for the youth to launch an individual business because it is a simple and easy one comparing to other types of business. The present study aims to investigate the mediating role that characteristics of entrepreneurs' social network play in relation to factors of social media which influence entrepreneurship development of home-based businesses. In terms of purpose, the present study is applied, and in terms of data collection, it is a descriptive correlational one. The statistical population of this study includes managers and experts of food industry business and 150 of them were selected by simple random sampling. Data collection tools are researcher-made questionnaires. The results from the measurement model were cited in order to evaluate validity and reliability of measurement tools and the conclusions confirmed validity and reliability of the questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used with Smart PLS software in order to analyze the data. According to the obtained results of the research, the effective factors of social media influence entrepreneurship development of home-based businesses both directly and by mediation of the characteristics of entrepreneurs' social network.