The Top Management Challenge for Women Entrepreneurs is 'Securing Sales Channels'

Publication of the Results of the '2019 Women Entrepreneurs Survey'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The number one area where women entrepreneurs feel difficulties in management is 'securing sales channels,' according to a survey. On the 4th, the Women's Economic Research Institute announced the results of the '2019 Women Entrepreneurs Survey' based on data as of the end of 2018.

This survey covered 42,803 women-owned businesses to understand their overall status, including business duration, financial and employment conditions, characteristics of women entrepreneurs, and difficulties faced. The survey results showed that the average business duration of women-owned companies was 11.9 years, the average assets per company were 6.33 billion KRW, and the average sales were 4.472 billion KRW. Additionally, the total number of employees in women-owned businesses was 1,306,028, with an average of 30.5 employees per company. Among key indicators, profitability (net profit margin relative to sales) was 4.6%, stability (debt ratio) was 184.1%, and activity (return on equity) was 2.1 times.

The management difficulties faced by women entrepreneurs were most commonly 'securing sales channels and marketing management' (34.1%), followed by 'fundraising and financial management' (31.2%). The areas where women entrepreneurs felt disadvantaged compared to male entrepreneurs were 'burden of balancing work and family' (26.3%) as the highest, followed by 'concerns about loss of business opportunities due to passive management' (12.1%).

Compared to the past, 65.9% of women entrepreneurs responded that discriminatory treatment against women entrepreneurs has 'positively changed,' with manufacturing industries (69.1%) showing a higher rate than non-manufacturing industries (65.0%). Compared to general male entrepreneurs, the greatest strength of women entrepreneurs was identified as 'delicacy' (20.2%), while the most vulnerable point was 'innovativeness' (23.1%).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.