The major problem I've seen with smaller businesses is stability over the long term (3+ years) and ongoing financial stability. I've had more than one smaller company I worked at go out of business or be sold off and shut down. A friend of mine works at a small company for years and he's had his paycheck bounce frequently. In the US, where health care benefits are typically tied to employment, the quality of these benefits is very important.
In many cases, you will have a bigger impact on the direction of development at a smaller company. The exception is if the founder is a programmer and they set and control the agenda. In that case, your input may not be wanted or appreciated.
At larger (ie Fortune 1000 companies) the overall stability is rarely an issue although the dreaded "reduction in force" has become very common as mid-upper managers strive to meet Wall Street investor dictated metrics by reducing headcount. It is sometimes possible to get a small company feel type job at a large company. This is great when it happens but those evil metrics will raise their head sooner or later. Surprisingly, benefits vary a good bit. Companies that have a large union workforce tend to have very good ones since salaried and hourly employees share the same negotiated plans (most of the time). Companies that don't tend to have below average benefits. The downside of a union heavy big corporation is that personnel cuts are easier when it comes to firing salaried employees. Contribution-wise, you're just a replaceable cog in the wheel and rarely held in much regard by management above your level. And don't get me started on the bureaucracy.
Mid-sized companies ($50M+ revenue, 200+ employees) that are well funded and have good income streams are the best to work at in my experience. They typically have good benefits and your contribution is usually felt and appreciated by all. They'll tend to be more responsive to requests with fewer hoops to jump through. The downside is that companies like this often get sold to investment groups who'll devastate things as they bring in their management team. Another risk is when the company has one or two big clients and they lose one. Then the layoffs start.
The major problem I've seen with smaller businesses is stability over the long term (3+ years) and ongoing financial stability. I've had more than one smaller company I worked at go out of business or be sold off and shut down. A friend of mine works at a small company for years and he's had his paycheck bounce frequently. In the US, where health care benefits are typically tied to employment, the quality of these benefits is very important.
In many cases, you will have a bigger impact on the direction of development at a smaller company. The exception is if the founder is a programmer and they set and control the agenda. In that case, your input may not be wanted or appreciated.
At larger (ie Fortune 1000 companies) the overall stability is rarely an issue although the dreaded "reduction in force" has become very common as mid-upper managers strive to meet Wall Street investor dictated metrics by reducing headcount. It is sometimes possible to get a small company feel type job at a large company. This is great when it happens but those evil metrics will raise their head sooner or later. Surprisingly, benefits vary a good bit. Companies that have a large union workforce tend to have very good ones since salaried and hourly employees share the same negotiated plans (most of the time). Companies that don't tend to have below average benefits. The downside of a union heavy big corporation is that personnel cuts are easier when it comes to firing salaried employees. Contribution-wise, you're just a replaceable cog in the wheel and rarely held in much regard by management above your level. And don't get me started on the bureaucracy.
Mid-sized companies ($50M+ revenue, 200+ employees) that are well funded and have good income streams are the best to work at in my experience. They typically have good benefits and your contribution is usually felt and appreciated by all. They'll tend to be more responsive to requests with fewer hoops to jump through. The downside is that companies like this often get sold to investment groups who'll devastate things as they bring in their management team. Another risk is when the company has one or two big clients and they lose one. Then the layoffs start.
Thanks for the very comprehensive answer :)