摘要
The aim of this paper is to perform a typology of Belgian entrepreneurs based on their motivations and to determine whether they are ＂motivated＂ or ＂forced＂ to create their firms. The authors used the methodology of the principal component analysis followed by an algorithm of classification to categorize groups of entrepreneurs. These groups were characterized by qualitative and quantitative variables. If the quantitative data were extracted from the firms＇ financial report and financial statements, the qualitative data were collected by means of a survey of Belgian entrepreneurs. The empirical study, made from a sample of 94 firms （representative of 10,728 firms）, confirms that the main motivations of Belgian entrepreneurs are positive （the need for autonomy, achievement, power, etc.） and are the same as in the literature. The study identifies five groups of entrepreneurs from the most highly-motivated one （46.81% of the entrepreneurs） to the ones （3.19%） who are forced into the entrepreneurship.
