Female small business owners feel more fulfilling than women who work at 9-5 for someone else, new research suggests.
That's a study of 500 female small business owners and 500 aspiring female entrepreneurs found that fulfillment is not merely a professional, but full of personal life.
The results show that 91% of current owners feel satisfied with their professional lives, compared to just 55% of those who have not made a leap into business ownership.
While 78% of aspiring owners feel fulfilled in their personal lives, they take things a step further, but that number jumps to 87% for those already up and running.
Over the next decade, 80% of all voted people expect to see more women at the helm of the company.
In fact, 58% of current business owners have opened their doors within the last six years, and 89% of aspiring business owners are planning to do the same over the next five years.
Over these six years, current employers found that they were happier (58%), more confident (54%) and more empowered (54%) than their previous roles.
Talker Research has been running it on behalf of the Kiddiacademythe survey sought to reveal highs through the eyes of current female business owners and future business pioneers.
Most (90%) of those voted on believe it is important for the next generation of children to see female business owners in their communities.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) became business owners, especially since 42% have children under the age of 18 at home, they wanted more freedom in their own lives.
Before becoming a small business owner, only 51% felt they had freedom in their schedules to pursue passion or take time off work.
After getting their business off the ground, almost everything (93%) found the freedom they were looking for.
Other key reasons include wanting to create a better world for future generations (26%) or feeling stuck in other jobs (23%).
These reflect a lot of the reasons why aspiring female entrepreneurs are banging on the pavement.
Two main factors are the need for a more flexible schedule (38%), and then more work life balance (35%) and a desire to leave an inheritance to children and grandchildren (30%).
Still, I'm not saying that all of these benefits come without challenges.
With a better understanding of the current SME landscape (30%) and support from other SME owners (26%) and family and friends (25%), they felt prepared to become SME owners.
But that's not all. 53% of current owners said that additional funds or safety nets would be ready for the road ahead.
With their biggest questions and hesitation about becoming a business owner, future entrepreneurs highlighted similar concerns, and many took it a step further.
One respondent asked, “Do I make it and learn from my mistakes?”
Other important hurdles that aspiring business owners need to overcome include building a customer base (47%), the word that a business exists (37%), knowing how to deal with unexpected challenges (33%), and even creating social media and online presence (29%).
“As a female entrepreneur, my journey to business ownership was not at zero risk, but I can say it has changed my life and my family's life for the better,” someone else. Women-owned businesses are an important part of our community and I am proud to be part of this movement. ”
Beyond daily profits and challenges, the survey asked current business owners what the most fulfilling part of the job was.
One woman said, “I know you're your boss. I make the final decision. For any woman, it's a great feeling.” Another said, “A satisfied customer is the best feeling ever. It lets me know that I'm doing everything right.”
For others, that fulfillment is deeper than the time they spend on work.
One respondent said that “being able to take care of my family and spend quality time with them” was the most satisfying part, while another respondent said, “I know that I can leave my child even after I leave.”
“Two of the greatest benefits that future entrepreneurs hope to reap are feeling more passionate about what they are doing (55%) and finding more fulfillment (49%) at work (49%). Business owners have already taken rewards and are already harvesting rewards. “We saw first-hand how fulfillment an entrepreneur can find when opening a franchise that matches their values. Whether it's educational parenting, professional services, tutoring services, or other concepts of franchise. Franchises are special in that they can enter the business themselves and not themselves.”
Research method:
Talker's survey looked at 500 female small business owners and 500 enthusiastic female small business owners. The survey was commissioned by Kiddie Academy and was managed and conducted online by Talker Research between February 6th and February 13th, 2025.
