Like most Chinese-owned businesses in the United States, the Chun family operated Sun Goon Shing with merchant partners pursuant to Section Six of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.

The act prohibited Chinese from immigrating to the U.S., but Section Six exempted students, scholars, merchants, and their families.

Sun Goon Shing made it possible for partners to migrate to the U.S. All partners participated in the work at the store.