Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates how personal financial situations influence the financial, logistical, and distribution-related decisions of microentrepreneurs in an emerging economy. It highlights personal finance knowledge as a strategic competency in managing supply chain flows, retail logistics, and channel coordination. By integrating financial literacy with distribution management, the study contributes to distribution science by demonstrating how micro-level financial competence enhances supply chain efficiency, retail logistics, and overall channel performance among small business owners. Research design, data, and methodology: A quantitative quasi-experimental design was applied to 197 microentrepreneurs in Huaraz, Peru, divided evenly into experimental and control groups. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire addressing operational, investment, financing, and distribution decision dimensions. The instrument showed strong reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.948). The Mann–Whitney U test compared pre- and post-intervention results between groups. Results: Findings revealed significant improvements in both financial and distribution-related decision-making following personal finance training. Pretest and post-test U values of 4562.5 and 64.5 (p = 0.00) indicated a strong positive effect of financial education on decision quality, inventory control, and supplier coordination. Conclusions: Personal finance knowledge enhances microentrepreneurs’ ability to integrate financial discipline with distribution management, promoting efficient procurement, inventory turnover, and supplier payment planning, thus strengthening competitiveness and sustainability within local distribution networks.