It is not known how small business owners perceive their absorptive capacity and quality of relationships within their business network as contributing to the success of knowledge sharing The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how small business owner’s perception of absorptive capacity and the quality of relationships with the small business network contribute to the success of knowledge sharing in the eastern United States. Absorptive capacity theory and social exchange theory guided this qualitative descriptive study. One primary and two secondary research questions which guided this study included how do the small business owner’s absorptive capacity and the quality of relationships within small business networks contribute to the success of knowledge sharing, what strategies do small business owners implement to improve absorptive capacity, and how do small business owners cultivate and maintain quality relationships with other small business owners in North Carolina. The study utilized a questionnaire, interviews, and a focus group. The questionnaire consisted of 60 participants. The interview consisted of 20 participants selected from the questionnaire and 6 participants were selected for the focus group. Data analysis occurred using a thematic analysis. The results revealed five global themes of engaging in knowledge sharing, participating in knowledge sharing, factors of absorptive capacity, influences of personality, and cultivating relationships. The results indicated the participants received support from engaging in knowledge sharing and cultivating relationships and engaging in the activities helped keep the small business owner focused in achieving goals.