Family businesses as a form of micro and small business make up the largest share of EU companies. Each family business is different from other family businesses and was created for different purposes. Starting a family business can provide the family with the secure existence and separation needed to create a space between family and business, thus allowing family members to think separately about family work without losing focus on business success. In order to understand the importance of the family business for the whole economy, it is important to understand the connection between the family and the business and how these separate systems work together. Family businesses represent an emotional-economic system, and due to family ties, there are often special challenges in achieving positive business results and business success. Family businesses in Europe represent between 60% and 70% of all micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and as such are becoming increasingly important in the growth strategies of local communities and national economies. Thanks to successful family businesses, the examples presented through case studies for the purposes of this thesis show this, it contributes to the creation of new jobs, the promotion of economic growth and the reduction of social and economic inequalities. Issues of social cohesion, protection of local culture, employment of local population and maintenance of local business tradition are just some of the questions answered by family businesses. In this way, a positive connection between family businesses and economic growth is created and maintained in Brod-Posavina County, and it can be concluded that family businesses are the driver of the economy of this county.