We examine factors affecting entrepreneurial orientation in Mexican family businesses. We aim to shed light on the relevance and value of such factors by analyzing five widely recognized dimensions: proactivity, innovation, risk taking, aggressiveness and autonomy. Results from a sample of 542 family businesses extracted from the INEGI-ENAFIN 2010 database and the first entrepreneurial stage of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) show a marked conservative tendency in the family businesses’ entrepreneurial orientation.