Registered Yet Rooted: Inherited Ambitions and the Family–Firm Connection in Women-Led MSMEs in Haldwani, Nainital District, Uttarakhand

Abstract

This study examines family support, inheritance, and intergenerational entrepreneurial experience among women entrepreneurs in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India. Using primary survey data from 228 women-led MSMEs, it explores how inherited businesses and family assistance influence MSME scheme registration. The analysis reveals substantial family-driven entrepreneurial activity, highlighting significant family involvement in business initiation. Chi-square tests confirm strong associations between inheritance, family experience, and family support. These findings emphasize the critical role family structures and legacies play in enhancing women's entrepreneurial formalization and sustained business growth. The study offers important insights for policy formulation, emphasizing the need for supportive frameworks that strengthen familial entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly for rural women entrepreneurs.