Home-based businesses in the city

This paper discusses the significance of HBB to metropolitan areas by drawing on recent developments in economic and human geography concerned with relationships between people, place and cyberspace in cities, and previous research examining HBB in Auckland, New Zealand. This paper argues that although urban HBB have distinct characteristics, they should be conceptualised relationally to other places of business conduct, including the Internet, third places such as cafes, and business precincts. HBB types and owner characteristics are highly differentiated in cities and so HBB 'pathways' is suggested as a useful concept to frame further research and policy development.