Aspirations of Chinese families-in-business: Development of a reliable measurement instrument

•This paper explores family firms’ aspirations with a focus on cultural differences.•Chinese family firms have unique family aspirations.•Based on a three-phase study, we develop and validate a measure of aspirations of Chinese families-in-business.•Six dimensions are explored: family harmony, financial wealth, health and longevity, continuity of family line, family honor and guanxi, and great ambitions for the younger generation.