The motivations and problems of women entrepreneurs according to their profiles

Although their contributions to economic growth and social development are inevitable, the number of women who are actively involved in entrepreneurship is still low. Since there are many various reasons that motivate women to start their own business and different problems that they face, it is important to reveal these factors for different stages of entrepreneurship and also for different sectors. In this study, the motivations of women entrepreneurs and the problems they encounter during the establishment and growth stages of their businesses are explored. The sample of this study consists of 40 women entrepreneurs with different demographic profiles and whose businesses operate in various sectors. The qualitative data obtained from interviews with women entrepreneurs are analyzed in accordance to their entrepreneurial profiles, as traditional and non-traditional entrepreneurs. The findings of the research indicate that the motivations for both traditional and non-traditional women entrepreneurs are mostly caused by the pull-factors that include the desirability factors such as the desire for independence, the desire for achievement, the desire to be their own boss. On the other hand, it was revealed that in the establishment stage of their businesses, women entrepreneurs faced both macro and micro problems, most of which are macro problems. Moreover, the number of non-traditional women entrepreneurs who encounter micro-problems is higher than traditional women entrepreneurs. Similarly, in the growth stage of their businesses, it is found out that the problems faced by both traditional and non-traditional women entrepreneurs are mostly macro problems. Accordingly, this study contributes to the literature with its comparative findings among traditional and non-traditional entrepreneurs and also among different stages of entrepreneurship which are establishment and growth stages.