Purpose: The purpose of this research is to identify key factors influencing employee learning from the perspective of owners/managers. Design/methodology/research: Data were gathered from owners/managers in a total of 27 small manufacturing and services firms through interviews and analysed using content analytic procedures. Findings: The research found that the key factors influencing employee learning could be categorised into four main themes: factors in the external business environment; factors in the work environment; learning potential of the job itself; and learning orientations of employees. Research limitations/implications: Categorisation of the factors produces a preliminary framework that might guide future research. The factors identified in this study need to be supplemented by factors identified through further research to develop a comprehensive framework. Practical implications: The findings could assist in raising owners'/managers' awareness of the key factors influencing employee learning. Categorisation of the factors could help owners/managers cope with the many factors. Originality/value: The paper attempts to bring some coherence to the study of employee knowledge and skill acquisition in small firms through identifying and categorising key factors influencing employee learning.