This paper details a qualitative exploratory study of rural home-based businesses. Little is known about the formation or operation of home-based businesses in rural areas despite their high incidence rate. In-depth cases are presented and, by employing a methodology designed to elicit rich narratives, the stories of eight participants are told. Emergent themes include the motivations for and the realities of operating a rural home-based business, the importance of contextual factors, and the use of technology.
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