Taylor and Francis Lupinacci, A: Women and Business Ownership

This book examines the increasing number of women who are starting their own businesses, showing that women look at business ownership as a serious endeavor, not just a supplementary source of family income. All of the women interviewed were highly motivated to own a business. Some of the women business owners left executive positions in the corporate world to start their own businesses. Other women started their own business to contribute to the financial well-being of their family. Many felt that being an entrepreneur would yield a higher quality of life. The results indicate that married women's current spouses and their children are supportive of their business venture. Although most of the women business owners have encountered some obstacles in their experience of owning a business, most of the entrepreneurs consider their business successful in terms of growth. The extrinsic and intrinsic rewards of the women owning their own business often overlap. The women have their own set of successes, disappointments, and aspirations.