The Financial Well-Being of Single-Mother Entrepreneurs in the Rural Areas of Sabah, Malaysia

The reality of women’s entrepreneurship differs according to contexts. This study aims to highlight the realities of women’s entrepreneurship in the context of rural areas of Sabah, Malaysia. The discussion is contextualised based on the experiences of single-mother entrepreneurs—a group rarely being highlighted within women as a heterogeneous group. The significance of entrepreneurial activities in overcoming the financial hardship faced by single mothers in rural areas is well accepted by many developing nations. This strategy is seen as relevant for single mothers to overcome the economic pressure of life while also helping to resolve the issue of poverty among single mothers. Therefore, this study explores how single-mother entrepreneurs construct their entrepreneurial experiences and the extent to which the experiences have influenced the financial well-being of their families. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight single-mother entrepreneurs in the rural areas of Sabah were conducted. The idea of single mothers as a significant group in necessities entrepreneurship is established. Considering that the issue of poverty in Sabah is critical, the involvement of single mothers as necessity entrepreneurs could have an impact on the state’s economic development. The financial hardship that women experience when they first become single mothers persists throughout their single motherhood lives, indicating the financial vulnerability of single-mother entrepreneurs. It is suggested that the key to achieving the financial well-being of single-mother entrepreneurs lies in a comprehensive and unique institutional strategy of its own.