Title: Home-based entrepreneurs

Authors: Greg Wilson, Helen Mitchell

Addresses: School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Unitec New Zealand, Private Bag 92025, Auckland, New Zealand. ' School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Unitec New Zealand, Private Bag 92025, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract: Most entrepreneurs are confident in their ability, tend to be risk takers, and appear to have the vision that others fail to see. A growing number of these entrepreneurs are setting up and operating their enterprise business from their home premises. Who are these individuals, what motivated them to start up a home based business, and what challenges and problems do they face is the focus of this New Zealand study on home based entrepreneurs. For those who have a work ethic, are self-disciplined, and can separate work life from family life, being a home-based entrepreneur (HBE) can be an attractive alternative. A desire to be your own boss and the belief that ||I can do it|| as well as those who are ||necessity entrepreneurs|| are just a few of the factors that influence New Zealanders to establish themselves as home-based entrepreneurs. The signs are encouraging for New Zealand HBEs, as a majority are satisfied with both business performance and profits. But the reality is that operating a business venture from home is not easy and poses a variety of challenges as well as considerable discipline to keep the work-life balance on track.

Keywords: New Zealand; home-based entrepreneurship; work-life balance; working from home; home-based entrepreneurs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2004.005654

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2004 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.249 - 254

Published online: 10 Nov 2004 *

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