The objective of this paper is to establish whether informal firms have entrepreneurial possibilities, or are marginal and inconsequential. The authors explore the nature of informal entrepreneurship in the theoretically rich context of Tunisia where, in the turbulent aftermath of the Arab Spring, the fiercely competitive environment is characterized by high unemployment while informal enterprise flourishes. The authors critically examine concepts of push and pull, necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship, as used in some studies to ‘explain’ informal entrepreneurship as inferior. It is argued that these are descriptors and that it is wrong to ascribe causality to them with regard to the nature of businesses. Consequently, it is maintained that informal enterprises have been wrongly construed as dead-end, marginal small businesses with no entrepreneurial future. The paper presents a comparative case analysis of three informal and three formal firms, using the framework of entrepreneurial orientation. The authors find that, although their nature does affect size and growth, informal enterprises are entrepreneurial. Moreover, when viewed more broadly, these businesses are but a different form of entrepreneurship. Their entrepreneurial ‘fit’ is in the opportunity created by their context and circumstances. It is therefore conceptually wrong to dismiss them as marginal, but practically right to seek out ways to bring them into the formal sector.

This paper examines a new type of entrepreneurship conducted via social networking sites named as social media entrepreneurship. In Tunisia, the number of women entrepreneurs operating on social media platforms such as Facebook is noteworthy. Thus, in this study it is aimed to determine the factors that prompted women to develop businesses on Facebook, and how this social network is a venue for female entrepreneurship. Particular attention is paid to identify individual-related (push/pull entrepreneurial motivation), technology-related and institutional factors that bear on the use of social media. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 24 female entrepreneurs. The research findings provide relevant information and support the idea that social media has opened up new horizons and entrepreneurial opportunities for women to pursue their entrepreneurial intention. Pull motivations are really behind the decision to start up social commerce. Facebook advantageous features have empowered women to create customer networks, used nature marketing tool at no cost and acquire positive attitude towards entrepreneurship. Finally, although the informal nature of business on Facebook is attractive, formalization remains a challenge for the majority of women. It seems that ambition to grow their businesses brings them to formal economy.

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