“Profit is not a dirty word”: Social entrepreneurship and community development”

The main purpose of this exploratory study is to propose a theoretical framework based on Max Weber’s types of rationality to understand the motivations for and operationalisation of social entrepreneurship, drawing from the case of Homebaked, an organisation operating in Liverpool, UK. Face-to-face interviews with nine Homebaked’s members, including management, were complemented by several on-site observations, industry and consulting report reviews. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. A juxtaposition between entrepreneurship and SE emerged, in that for-profit principles were implemented to drive and achieve objectives of social causes. Indeed, maximising the organisation’s financial potential, enhancing its profitability by increasing sales and expanding its offerings, was reconciled with its objectives to benefit the local community. From a theoretical perspective, a strong connection was revealed between the findings and all four types of rationality, as postulated by Kalberg