Women Entrepreneurs in The Informal Sector: Struggles and Successes – A Qualitative Study in Pune City

Women’s entrepreneurship in the informal sector constitutes a significant yet under-recognized component of urban economies in India. This study examines the motivations, challenges, coping strategies, and empowerment experiences of women entrepreneurs operating informal businesses such as tailoring and beauty services in Pune City. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with women entrepreneurs to capture their lived experiences. The findings reveal that women enter informal entrepreneurship primarily due to economic necessity, family responsibilities, and the flexibility offered by informal work. However, they face persistent challenges including financial insecurity, customer bargaining, lack of institutional support, and work–family conflict. To sustain their enterprises, women rely on social networks, skill-based strategies, mutual collaboration, and adaptive pricing practices. Despite structural constraints, informal entrepreneurship provides women with financial independence, self-confidence, and enhanced social status. The study contributes to debates on informal economy theory by demonstrating that formalization alone is not a sufficient solution for women entrepreneurs. Instead, context-sensitive policies that recognize women’s agency and socio-cultural realities are required