Why Women Start Their own Work at Home Business

A Home Business Article Contributed by Cassandra l. Keller

Why Women Start Their own Work at Home Business

A recent study of 800 women and men who work in their own home business reveals the increasing numbers female home business owners.

The study showed that women-owned businesses in the United States are increasing at almost twice that of the national average.

Conducted by three prominent business organizations including Catalyst, the National Foundation for Women Business Owners (NFWBO) and The Committee of 200, the study was sponsored by Salomon Smith Barney.

Whey They Wanted to Work in a Home Business

According to the study, more than 40 percent of women cited the pull of an entrepreneurial idea as the single greatest reason for becoming a home business owner.

"Women business owners are more likely to report having experienced frustrations in their work environment than men and these factors have increased in recent years, " Sheila Wellington, president of Catalyst said in the report. "There have also been significant increases in the numbers of women entrepreneurs who cite being unchallenged in their previous jobs."

Other Reasons Women Left Work for a Home Business

Some other reasons women cited for leaving their private sector jobs to launch a home business of their own were flexibility and "glass ceiling issues."

More than 51 percent wanted more flexible hours, probably seeking more time to accommodate their families and households.

Nearly 30 percent of the home business owners said they left their jobs to work at home due to "glass ceiling" issues. Of this percentage, 44 percent of the women said the felt their contributions were not recognized or valued by their employers.

Reasons Women Would Leave Their Home Business Work to Return to the Corporate World

The survey also revealed that the women home business owners would return to the corporate world under the right circumstances.

Almost 25 percent of the group said they would leave their home business for money. Eleven percent said if they had greater flexibility in their work, they would leave their home business and return to their corporate jobs.

Other Facts Revealed in the Study

The study revealed other interesting facts including that women business owners were more likely than men to have turned to a personal interest into a venture.

It also showed that most business owners had prior career experience. Women, however, were less likely than men to have come from a large company. They were also more likely to have had nonprofit experience.

Women who started their own venture with the last ten years were more likely to have come from management positions than clerical slots. They were also more likely than men to have started a home business rather than purchase a franchise or small business from another entrepreneur.

Of those surveyed, being their own boss and having more freedom were among the greatest rewards of being a business owner. Dealing with employee problems and long, inflexible hours were among the greatest reasons for the business owners leaving their corporate job.

Based on these results, the study ultimately shows that more and more women are seeking their own home business.