Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how family and ethnic social ties, both as distinct and interrelated forms, support immigrant entrepreneurs in developing their businesses in their host country. This is identified through the following research question: How do family and ethnic social ties support immigrant entrepreneurs in developing their businesses in their host country?

Design/methodology/approach: This study draws on the study of three immigrant entrepreneurs from Sweden, who run their businesses in different industries. The study used interviews and complementary data sources such as annual reports and press clips.

Findings: The results reveal three concepts of immigrant entrepreneur social ties: (1) the control-based social ties of the immigrant entrepreneur, (2) the responsibility-based social ties of the immigrant entrepreneur, and (3) the inclusive and ethnic urgency-based social ties of the immigrant entrepreneur.

Originality/value: This paper develops three ideas on immigrant entrepreneurs' use of social ties in Sweden. The paper particularly focuses on the central roles of family ties for entrepreneurship in combination with ethnic social ties.