In contrast to other European countries, little is known about enterprises in Switzerland which are managed by persons of foreign origin, although it can be observed a growing proportion of self-employed immigrants in the last 15 years. More research is needed in particular regarding the background against which the setting up of private enterprises by people of foreign origin occurs, as well as concerning the role these enterprises play within the process of integration of migrants and their ethnic communities. In view of the contemporary structural change of the world of work and the increasing proportion of unemployed migrants, the promotion of self-employed labour which entails the creation of new jobs provides an important contribution to the integration of migrants. And particularly so, because it is assumed that integration into the job market is closely connected to integration into other sections of society. But – like the other side of the coin - it is well known that self-employed men and women are notably threatened by the risk of become a working poor. This raises the question about the role of self-employment in processes of integration and exclusion.