Barriers to Microenterprise Initialization, Growth, and Success

The vitality of any community rests on its entrepreneurs; therefore, understanding the barriers that impede microenterprise initialization and growth is essential. This phenomenological study explored the coping strategies of African American business owners related to business growth and operation in a southeast Virginian city. Two theories framed this study: the resource-based theory and the disadvantage theory of entrepreneurship. Twenty microenterprise owners who had active businesses participated in this study. These microenterprise owners responded to semistructured questions and shared their experiences in face-to-face interviews. Data codification and thematic reduction occurred within qualitative data analysis software. Emergent themes included (a) the effects of barriers on microentrepreneurs, (b) the influences of regulatory agencies on microenterprises, (c) entrepreneurial resources required for success, and (d) agency adaptation to entrepreneurial needs. Two invariant themes emerged from the data; these themes were the importance of location and the availability of a quality workforce. The implications for positive social change include the potential for creating a business environment conducive to the expansion of the African American business sector, enhancing microenterprise management strategies, fostering a spirit of cooperation within the community, and offering support to African Americans who have dreams of business ownership.