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Abstract
This research explores the relationship between firm profitability and actual speed of foreign market entry. Results suggest that profitability has an inverted U-shaped relationship with actual speed of foreign market entry, in the context of large US corporate law firms entering China. This result supports the idea that firms with both the need and resources to expand into foreign markets rapidly will do so, while laggards will lack either the resources or need to enter markets. Results also suggest that previously established offices in culturally similar markets, larger firm size, firm infancy, and prior international experience hasten market entry. Alternatively, limited organizational slack and concentrated practices delay market entry. Unexpectedly, prior entry of competitors appears to represent a deterrent to rapid entry. Additionally, while regulatory reforms on foreign law firms in China allowed for wider geographic access, they also increased operating restrictions, slowing entry speeds. Finally, results suggest that intense home-market competitive intensity may divert or decrease resource commitments to rapid foreign expansion.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]