From Passion to Profit: An Analysis of Entrepreneurial Management Strategies in Scaling Local Coffee Shop Creative-Preneurship
Article Sidebar
-
Entrepreneurial Management, Founder-Centric Bottleneck, Scaling Strategies
Abstract
The rise of creative-preneurship in the local coffee sector, exemplified in Indonesia, presents a critical managerial challenge: the transition from passion-driven ventures to scalable, profitable enterprises. Many founders fail to navigate this “passion-to-profit” transition, often due to a “founder-centric bottleneck.” This study aims to identify, analyze, and model the effective entrepreneurial management strategies that differentiate high-growth, creative-led coffee shops from low-growth or stagnant ventures. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, analyzing a purposive sample of 30 Indonesian coffee shops. This involved a comparative analysis of high-growth (N=15) and low-growth (N=15) ventures using quantitative financial and operational surveys and 45 in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Quantitative findings reveal a stark divergence: high-growth firms averaged 45.2% CAGR and 25.1% employee turnover, versus 6.1% CAGR and 78.4% turnover for low-growth firms. Qualitative analysis identified “Formalized Creative Systems” and “Decentralized Leadership” as key success strategies. Inferential analysis confirmed “Formalized Creative Systems” as the strongest predictor of successful scaling (\beta = 2.14, p < 0.01). Scaling a creative-preneurial venture is contingent upon the founder’s ability to systematize their creative vision. This research provides the Scalable Creative-preneurship Framework (SCF), an empirically-validated model for resolving the “art-commerce” paradox.
Full text article
References
Adomako, S., Yaw Kusi, S., Ahsan, M., Cowden, B., & Phong Nguyen, N. (2024). Entrepreneurial curiosity and firm innovation: Exploring the mediating role of information search in new technology ventures. Journal of Business Research, 182, 114787. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114787
Ahmad, S., Zhang, Q., Hussain, M. A., & Mahmood, S. (2025). Entrepreneurial success through learning, capital, and work engagement: Market and service orientation perspective. Acta Psychologica, 258, 105188. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105188
Ahmed, T., Wasim, J., Usman, M., & Akhtar, M. W. (2025). Female entrepreneurial vocational training and entrepreneurial behavior: a longitudinal study. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 19(4), 893–913. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-03-2024-0172
Ayteki?n, A. (2025). Determining the ideal integrated performance measurement approach for eco-entrepreneurship in manufacturing sectors. Journal of Cleaner Production, 528, 146758. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146758
Borrero, J. D., & Yousafzai, S. (2025). Spinning the circle: unravelling the “why?” behind social motivations in circular economy entrepreneurship. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 19(4), 881–912. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-01-2024-0003
Brandshaug, S. W. (2024). Transformation in the liminal space ‘in between’ student and entrepreneur. The International Journal of Management Education, 22(2), 100962. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2024.100962
Byrne, J., & Giuliani, A. P. (2025). The rise and fall of the girlboss: Gender, social expectations and entrepreneurial hype. Journal of Business Venturing, 40(4), 106486. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2025.106486
Campos-Sánchez, A., Flores-Rodríguez, C. R., & Zápari-Romero, G. Y. (2025). Perceptions of formal and informal financing sources as a predictor of female university students’ entrepreneurial intentions. European Research on Management and Business Economics, 31(3), 100289. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2025.100289
Cesinger, B., & Dittenberger, S. (2025). Shaping Entrepreneurial Design Identity in Design Education. She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, 11(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sheji.2025.01.003
Chang, F. Y. M., Webster, C. M., Aftab Alam, M., & Chirico, F. (2024). Entrepreneurs’ network bricolage: Reconfiguring social ties for resource creation. Journal of Business Research, 185, 114931. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114931
Cheng, Z., Wang, H., Yu, X., & Zhang, L. (2025). From struggle to startup: How childhood socioeconomic status shapes entrepreneurial happiness. Economic Modelling, 143, 106979. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106979
D’Oria, L., Scheaf, D. J., Michaelis, T. L., & Lerman, M. P. (2025). Para-social mentoring: The effects of entrepreneurship influencers on entrepreneurs. Journal of Business Venturing, 40(1), 106439. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2024.106439
Djebali, Z., Di Domenico, M., & Saunders, M. N. K. (2025). Later-working-life social entrepreneurial identities: a dynamic self-categorisation framework. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 31(9), 2249–2270. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2023-0575
Donaldson, C., Villagrasa, J., Alegre, J., & Liguori, E. W. (2024). Back to the future: Entrepreneurial leadership and levelling up in the mobile-gaming sector. Technology in Society, 79, 102748. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102748
Drencheva, A., & Au, W. C. (2025). Navigating crisis in non-standard work: Social entrepreneurs’ sensemaking and purpose protection during career shocks. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 162, 104178. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2025.104178
Duong, C. D. (2025). Sustainability-oriented intrinsic motivation for sustainable entrepreneurial venturing: The curvilinear effects of basic psychological needs. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 8, 100217. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2025.100217
Fernandez, V. (2025). Purpose-driven entrepreneurship and innovation: the moderating effect of altruism. Sustainable Futures, 10, 100838. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100838
Flores, M. C., Grimaldi, R., Poli, S., & Villani, E. (2024). Entrepreneurial universities and intrapreneurship: A process model on the emergence of an intrapreneurial university. Technovation, 129, 102906. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102906
Haque, A. ul, Yamoah, F., & Nweke, U. (2025). The stress-innovation link: leadership and strategies of female entrepreneurs in diverse economies. Strategy & Leadership, 53(5), 504–520. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/SL-12-2024-0144
Hossain, S. F. A., Rashed, M., Bari, T., Sushme, S. S., Akter, T., Islam, M. F., Wider, W., & Bhandari, P. (2025). The influence of hybrid leadership in sustainable women entrepreneurial performance. Sustainable Futures, 9, 100727. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100727
Jewer, J., Pourasgari, P., & Jugdev, K. (2024). Achieving project performance goals in extreme resource-constrained environments: the role of bricolage in social enterprise projects. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 17(45), 779–803. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-03-2024-0059
Jim, V. H. C., Chow, J. M. L., & Ward, D. F. B. (2024). Unleashing entrepreneurial potential: venture creation and self-directed experiential learning on social media amongst secondary school-aged business owners. Education + Training, 66(7), 717–737. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-08-2023-0346
Kim, S. M., & Uygur, U. (2025). Cognitive origins of entrepreneurial action: How venture-specific knowledge drives financial investments. Journal of Business Venturing, 40(6), 106527. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2025.106527
Kimakwa, S., & Abebe, M. (2025). Social entrepreneurial ambidextrous orientation and venture performance. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 32(5), 1102–1132. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-02-2024-0067
La Rocca, A., & Dal Molin, S. (2024). Sustainable entrepreneurship: How do contextual factors play a role? Industrial Marketing Management, 123, 292–303. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2024.10.010
Lupoae, O.-D., Wilk, V., & Radu, R. I. (2024). Sustainable entrepreneurship in equine services. Journal of Business Research, 170, 114361. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114361
Maziriri, E. T., Dzingirai, M., Nyagadza, B., & Mabuyana, B. (2024). From perceived parental entrepreneurial passion to technopreneurship intention: The moderating role of perseverance and perceived parental entrepreneurial rewards. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 3(1), 100051. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2023.100051
Maziriri, E. T., Nyagadza, B., & Maramura, T. C. (2024). Social entrepreneurial role models’ influence on social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent, and social entrepreneurial action in South Africa: the moderating role of moral obligation. Social Enterprise Journal, 20(3), 278–317. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-12-2022-0114
Montiel-Campos, H. (2024). Entrepreneurial alertness and new firm performance: a moderated mediation model. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 89(3), 253–271. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMAMJ-06-2024-0030
Mousa, M., Althalathini, D., & Avolio, B. (2024). Autonomy, competence and relatedness: how and why do artisan entrepreneurs act as responsible leaders? Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 31(5), 999–1020. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-07-2023-0342
Nasir, M. M., & Shamim, S. (2024). Muslim women entrepreneurs: an exploratory study of the Nigerian “Mumpreneurs” perspective. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 33(2), 416–433. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-11-2023-4066
Neneh, B., & Ofem, B. (2025). Boundary conditions of the entrepreneurial passion-behavior link: the role of psychological resilience and grit. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 17(6), 1636–1658. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-06-2024-0230
Nguyen, T. T. (2025). Inspiring social changemakers: what drives social enterprise dreams? Social Enterprise Journal, 21(5), 831–863. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-07-2024-0109
Oliver, P. G., Mora, L., & Zhang, J. (2025). Collaboration before competition: How smart city entrepreneurs co-create temporary ecosystems to build capacity for learning. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 214, 124046. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124046
Otache, I., & Usman, T. O. (2024). Entrepreneurial management, competitive advantage and SME performance: evidence from an emerging economy. European Business Review, 36(6), 997–1014. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2023-0359
Rajpal, M., Singh, B., Chatterjee, S., & Sivarajah, U. (2025). Public sector development and entrepreneurial initiatives for improving circular economy performance: Government policy and digital transformation initiatives as moderators. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 221, 124333. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124333
Roccapriore, A. Y., Cardon, M. S., Murnieks, C. Y., & Crook, T. R. (2025). Which signals matter most? A meta-analytic study of early-stage investment decisions. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 23, e00539. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2025.e00539
Salajegheh, N., Chaghoee, M., & Irani, H. R. (2025). The role of entrepreneurial motivation in the preference for causal and effectual behaviors: insights from Iran’s ecotourism sector. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 17(6), 1333–1356. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-09-2024-0407
Scaffidi, F., Micelli, E., & Nash, M. (2025). The role of the social entrepreneur for sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration. Cities, 158, 105670. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105670
Schreier, C., Udomkit, N., Frommelt, J., & Zemp, M. (2024). Entrepreneurial approaches: A comparative study of Thai and swiss business founders. Asia Pacific Management Review, 29(2), 226–240. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2024.05.001
Shah, D., Meiklejohn, A., Spencer, N., & Lawrence, S. (2024). Precariat women’s experiences to undertake an entrepreneurial training program. Journal of Business Research, 178, 114671. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114671
Shang, L. (2024). From the emancipated to the emancipator: an integrative perspective on women social entrepreneurs’ emancipation experiences. Gender in Management, 39(7), 977–996. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-03-2023-0065
Shankar, R. K., & Corbett, A. C. (2024). Quasipractice: How the entrepreneurship educator develops entrepreneurial practice expertise. Journal of Business Venturing, 39(6), 106435. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2024.106435
Stewart, A., & Krackhardt, D. (2025). Sticky ties among rivals for entrepreneurial leadership. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 31(11), 151–171. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-07-2023-0744
Utete, R., & Zhou, S. (2024). Re-imagining the complexities faced by rural entrepreneurs in South Africa: Implications for local economic development in the post COVID-19 pandemic period. Journal of Rural Studies, 105, 103167. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103167
Valéau, P., Gabay-Mariani, L., & Paillé, P. (2024). How initial and long-term commitment profiles shape entrepreneurial persistence over time. Journal of Business Research, 170, 114332. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114332
Valor, C., Martín-Magdalena, J., Lazcano, L., & Bada, C. (2025). Rhetorical use of displayed emotions in resource mobilization: A proposal of a pedagogy. The International Journal of Management Education, 23(2), 101165. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101165
Wallace, R., & Smith, K. (2024). Who Cares? Women entrepreneurs and the transition to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement in Nova Scotia. Women’s Studies International Forum, 107, 102992. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102992
Wang, F., Sahid, S., Radin A Rahman, R. S. A., Li, Z., & Wang, J. (2025). Exploring the determinants of entrepreneurial behavior among students in Chinese vocational colleges: A mediated and moderated model. The International Journal of Management Education, 101290. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101290
Weng, Q., Jiang, H., Zhao, H., Popelnukha, A., Niu, T., & Chen, L. (2025). Your success should be internally attributed: The role of performance accomplishment in entrepreneurial practice on entrepreneurial intention. The International Journal of Management Education, 23(2), 101161. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101161
Wu, Q., Khattak, M. S., Anwar, M., Hani, I. B., & Hujran, O. (2025). CEO passion, digitalization, and family firm performance: A socio-emotional wealth perspective. Digital Business, 5(2), 100144. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.digbus.2025.100144
Xue, L., & Sun, H. (2024). The experience of migrant entrepreneurs in destinations: A cognitive dissonance perspective. Annals of Tourism Research, 109, 103849. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2024.103849
Zaca, F. N., Wale, E., & Chipfupa, U. (2025). The relationship between social grant dependence and on-farm entrepreneurial behaviour: Evidence from smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Heliyon, 11(15), e43811. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e43811
Zheng, F., Sun, H., Ren, R., & Chang, W. (2024). Impact of the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem on startup performance: An empirical study from China. International Review of Economics & Finance, 96, 103611. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2024.103611
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Wijaya Wijaya, Napat Chai, Jamil Khan, Abdullah Abdullah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
