This study examines the impact of women’s entrepreneurial income on wellbeing. Women entrepreneurs (N = 504) from district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan participated in the study. ANOVAs and multiple regressions were used to analyze the impact of predictors on the dependent variables (i.e., per capita income, education, health, entertainment, social, household, and other miscellaneous expenditures, investment, savings, and charity). The findings indicated that women’s informal entrepreneurship has a significant role in family, economic, and societal wellbeing. The results contribute to the understanding of women’s entrepreneurial income on individual and family wellbeing. Women’s informal entrepreneurship plays an important role, particularly in the developing world, consistent with the multiplier effect of women entrepreneurs’’ wellbeing. Measures were suggested to empower such women informal, home-based entrepreneurs in view of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Purpose: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound economic effects, putting women entrepreneurs at considerable risk of losing income and sales growth as a result. This study aims to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic is a blessing or a curse for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan’s informal sector. The influence of business type, family support and other socio-economic factors on the sales volume of women’s businesses is examined. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 400 women entrepreneurs using a survey questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to investigate the relationships between perceived sales volume and socio-economic as well as demographic factors of women entrepreneurs. Findings: Findings for RQ1 revealed that the pandemic was a blessing for cloth and cosmetic entrepreneurs, but a curse for those women selling dairy products. Results for RQ2 showed that age, homeownership, household size, family support and type of business were significant predictors of sales. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs were greatly influenced by their family’s desires and decisions, such that women entrepreneurs who received support from families and relatives reported higher sales than those who did not receive such support. Practical implications: The results may assist policymakers in designing supportive programs to encourage women’s informal entrepreneurial activities. Creating entrepreneurial ecosystems may provide support for women entrepreneurs beyond family support. The findings provide a better understanding of women’s business effectiveness during COVID-19 pandemic. It reveals the resilience of women entrepreneurs in the face of cultural, economic and institutional constraints encountered during the pandemic. Originality/value: This study is unique because it focuses on the impact of the pandemic at the household level rather than examining broad macroeconomic scenarios. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to explore the informal, home-based business sector of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan during the pandemic.

Entrepreneurship is considered as one of the strategies for economic and regional development. In particular, women entrepreneurs engaged in different geographic locations, where their characteristics and business factors are different in each location. This study examines home-based women entrepreneurs in Pakistan in relation to their place of residence, specifically rural or urban context. Very few studies have considered place of residence as a variable affecting women’s businesses at the household level. This is critical since the business context can exert a major influence on available resources and constraints that affect business viability and sustainability. Data were collected from 504 women entrepreneurs using a survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistics regression were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The findings revealed important and significant differences based on the rural versus urban context of women entrepreneurs including home ownership, household size, the number of adult family members in the household, family financial position, business record keeping, having a bank account, and type of business. While the binary logistic regression analysis reported adult family members, family financial position, business record keeping, bank account, and beautician business were the significant predictors of the women entrepreneurs’ rural–urban model. The findings offer implications for policymakers, funders, bank/financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations for increasing women’s entrepreneurship, empowerment, and income equality in developing countries.

Women’s entrepreneurship is critical for fostering economic growth and inclusive development globally. Women’s home-based businesses are crucial for women with restricted mobility and employment options to earn an income in developing countries. This study considers the impact of women’s home-based entrepreneurship on their family’s financial position. We collected data from 504 women entrepreneurs in Mardan City, Pakistan using a questionnaire/interview procedure. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to analyze the predictors of family financial position. The results showed that women entrepreneurs’ age, marital status, homeownership, rural versus urban location, household size, and business income significantly affect their family’s financial position. The findings revealed that women entrepreneurs have a substantial impact on the financial position and welfare of their families consistent with the multiplier effect ascribed to women in entrepreneurship. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.