What to Look for When Choosing a Journal
Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:
- Scope covering SME performance, challenges, and strategies
- Acceptance of developing-country and emerging-market SME research
- Welcoming of practitioner-focused research and case studies
- Open access so research reaches small business owners and policymakers
- Fast review timelines for policy-relevant research
- Indexing for academic and practitioner discoverability
Recommended Journals — Cluster 6: Business, Management & Entrepreneurship
All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.
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Business and Management Sciences Journal
(BMSJ)
Business administration, management theories, organizational studies, and applied business research.
Business Administration Management Sciences Organizational Behavior Strategic Management -
Columbia Journal of Business and Economic Research
(CJBER)
Business, economics, human resource management, marketing, finance, and interdisciplinary management research.
Business Economics Human Resource Management Financial Management Marketing Research -
Columbia Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management
(CJEM)
Entrepreneurship, innovation, startup ecosystems, SME research, and venture management.
Entrepreneurship Innovation Management Small Business Venture Development -
Journal of Human Resource and Organizational Behavior
(JHROB)
Human resource management, employee performance, organizational behavior, leadership, and workforce development.
Human Resource Management Organizational Behavior Leadership Studies Employee Performance
Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in the business and management field.
Why Small Business Research Matters
In most countries, SMEs account for over 90% of all businesses and the majority of employment. Yet SME research is often underrepresented in top-tier journals dominated by large firm studies. Keith Publications journals specifically welcome SME research, giving this critical area of scholarship the platform it deserves. Research on financing, growth barriers, formalisation, digitalisation, and resilience of small businesses has enormous policy and societal relevance.
Research Topics for Small Business Journals
Our journals welcome small business research on: SME financing and access to capital, digital adoption in small firms, family business management, microenterprise challenges, SME export behaviour, informal business formalisation, small business survival and resilience, SME policy and government support, women-owned businesses, and youth entrepreneurship and small business creation.
Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances
- Align your topic with the journal's scope — read the aims and scope carefully before submitting.
- Write a compelling abstract — it's the first thing editors and reviewers read. Make it clear, concise, and keyword-rich.
- Ensure strong methodology — clearly describe your research design, data collection, and analysis method.
- Use current and relevant citations — include recent publications (within the last 5 years) alongside seminal works.
- Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
- Write a strong conclusion — summarise key findings, discuss implications, acknowledge limitations, and suggest future research.
- Proofread thoroughly — language errors reduce credibility. Use professional proofreading tools or services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Research Guides
Explore other research journal guides in the Business, Management & Entrepreneurship cluster: