Traditionally, women in India are generally found in low productive sectors such as agriculture and household activities. Few of them venture into services industry relating to hospitality, catering, educational services, consultation or public relations, beauty clinics, etc.  The Planning commission as well as the Indian government recognizes the need for women to be part of the mainstream of economic development. Women entrepreneurship is seen as an effective strategy to solve the problems of poverty and gender inequality as India’s GDI rank is 103 (2004). Study is an attempt to understand the problems if any faced by women entrepreneurs, contributing to limited growth of their businesses, and to find out important problems faced by them. Research is based on primary as well as secondary sources. Sample survey method is used to collect data from 93 women entrepreneurs in Thane city. Findings reveal that women as entrepreneurs face gender discrimination, limiting growth of their businesses.

KEYWORDS: Productive Sectors, Household Activities, Economic Development, Women Entrepreneurship.