Author(s): Yohannes Worku, Zeleke Worku and Mammo Muchie
The paper is based on a survey of 228 women entrepreneurs of Ethiopian origin living and working in the nine provinces of South Africa. The purpose of the survey was to explain socioeconomic factors that affect the profitability of businesses operated by women entrepreneurs of Ethiopian origin. The study found that about 74% of businesses were profitable. Profitability in businesses operated by women migrant entrepreneurs was influenced by level of entrepreneurial skills, the ability to raise business loans from social capital associations, and the ability to order merchandise in bulk on credit, in a decreasing order of strength.