Analysis of the capital structure of startups in light of the tradeoff and pecking Order theories

Abstract

Purpose: Startups have significant differences compared to other companies. They have many intangible assets (e.g., team tenure and experience of founders), are risky, and tend not to generate profits in their initial years (Heirman & Clarysse, 2007; Weber & Zulehner, 2009). Does the startups’ financing choice also differ from that of traditional companies? We analyzed the capital structure of startups in their first years of life based on the classic tradeoff and pecking order theories. Methodology/approach: We collected data on 40 startups in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, through a questionnaire on the profiles of the founders, company characteristics, bottom-line performance and financing sources. The data collected covered the year of founding and the three subsequent years. Findings: The results indicated that these startups mainly financed themselves through the founders’ capital in all four years covered. Only in the third year did they start using resources generated internally, indicating pecking order adherence. However, the presence of angel investors and government subsidies contrasted with the absence of bank debt. In line with the tradeoff theory, bank debt was not a viable financing option in the early years of these firms since they had low profitability and high risk. Theoretical/methodological contributions: We offer a theoretical contribution by analyzing the adequacy of traditional financial theories in the specific context of startups. Originality: The finance literature about startups is scarce, and few studies have analyzed these companies from the capital structure theoretical perspective. Social contributions / for management: We provide a panorama of the financing of startups to support their financial planning regarding fundraising.