Home-Based Entrepreneurship: An Extensive Review of Literature

Abstract

This study explores the role of home-based entrepreneurship in enhancing family and community well-being in a rural district facing limited formal employment opportunities, gendered social norms, and economic instability. Despite facing constraints like limited market access, patriarchal control, and financial exclusion, participants reported improved household income, increased decision-making power, and stronger community ties. These outcomes align with Empowerment Theory and Socio-Economic Development Theory, illustrating how localized informal enterprise can drive social and psychological transformation. The study also highlights unintended consequences, including emotional burden and household tensions, revealing the complex dynamics of empowerment in conservative contexts. By focusing on rural area, the research addresses a significant gap in entrepreneurship literature and offers policy insights for localized support systems. It advocates for recognition of home-based businesses as legitimate economic actors and calls for interventions that foster sustainable, inclusive rural development.