Why not now? Intended timing in entrepreneurial intentions

Understanding the formation of entrepreneurial intention is critical, given that it is the first step in the entrepreneurial process. Little research has been undertaken to investigate the intended timing of future entrepreneurial activities. The aim of this paper is to analyse the formation of entrepreneurial intentions among final-year university students after graduation in terms of the timeframe it would take them to start their own business. Potential rapid entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-in-waiting were compared using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). A variance-based structural equation modelling approach was used for the sample of 851 final-year university students with entrepreneurial intentions who participated in GUESSS project. The results obtained contribute to the understanding of how entrepreneurial intentions are formed, particularly, how intended timing plays a moderating role in the relationships of the variables of the theoretical model of TPB. The findings of this study have practical implications for entrepreneurship education, and they can help policy makers develop more effective policies and programs to promote entrepreneurship.