Women in business: Challenges remain, says study

Women are increasingly making their mark in the entrepreneurial world. However, a survey of women entrepreneurs done by research advisory firm Greyhound Knowledge Group found that numerous challenges remain.
The women who are running ventures in cities like Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad face problems ranging from lack of capital to lack of family approval. Takeaways from the survey:

REASONS FOR STARTING UP

20% Women claimed they started their own business to follow their passion and satiate their need for creative satisfaction

20% Respondents have started their own business for a better standard of living

DAY TO DAY ISSUES

50% Respondents stated they are happy being an entrepreneur as it gives them a sense of freedom

40% Claimed they either work from home or near their homes to look after their family & completing regular chores

45% Say being an entrepreneur gives them the flexibility of time

68% Faced the challenge of not being taken seriously

40% Claimed their family did not approve or were not confident of them

STRATEGIC TROUBLES

Mostly, women entrepreneurs consider investments in IT as too much of a drain on resources. About 27% use technology for emails and websites, but not much else...

But in Ahmedabad and Bangalore more than 30% women entrepreneurs use IT for their business

70% Women entrepreneurs find capital procurement a major challenge

To avoid this, they choose to operate in a less capitalintensive business like stock trading, said over 50% of the businesswomen surveyed. Most say if they need additional capital, they borrow from their husbands or relatives

20% Business women claim that for starting their own ventures they used their own savings



BIGGER PICTURE

45% Respondents who feel that their biggest inspiration are women entrepreneurs they see around them

65% Women who felt their mothers could not fulfill their own aspirations due to social limitations and regressive thinking in their time

50% Women who felt entry barriers for them have come down considerably