Women-owned businesses are the fastest growing segment of new business start-ups, and black women's businesses are a larger share of black-owned businesses than white women's businesses are of all white firms. Most studies compare men's and women's businesses, but few examine differences among women. This book, first published in 2000, makes a significant contribution not only to the literature on entrepreneurial business, but also to the experiences of African American women.

Katherine Inman

1. Introduction 2. Society and the Economic Actor: Theories of Women's Labor Market Involvement 3. Review of Research on Women and Business 4. Research Design and Methods 5. Motives, Goals and Strategies in Start-Up: Situation-Based Decisions and Actions 6. Human Capital 7. Financial Capital 8. Social Ties and Human Capital 9. Social Ties and Financial Capital 10. Conclusion: Making Choices with Limited Options