ABSTRACT
This study explores in depth the experiences of women business owners, a rapidly growing but under-studied segment of American workers. It compares the experiences of African American and European American owners and contrasts the experiences of women who found businesses in three types of communities, rural, small city, and large urban areas. The study focuses on two central questions: what motivates women to start businesses and, once they have decided to become owners, how do women garner resources to carry out their business goals?
