Women Entrepreneurs: Driving Factors and Growth – A Study in Coimbatore District

The present investigation was carried out in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu state to know the socio economic background, impact of driving factors, and growth of women entrepreneurs. Total 150 respondents were interviewed with the help of pre-tested interview schedule. Random sampling technique was adopted for the selection of women entrepreneurs. The study was designed to cover the women entrepreneurs running their own enterprise. Tools applied are Percentage Analysis, Friedman Rank Test, Chi square Analysis and correlation. It was found that (60%) of them belong to backward community, (62.7%) have started a new business and (88%) of the women entrepreneurs do their business within the state, 53.3% have started their business out of own investment. Family members to certain extent had an influence in all the business matters. The performance level indicates that there is increase in sales when compared to the year of starting. (40%) of the respondents ranked contribution to family income as the motivational factor for starting their own enterprise followed by use of spare time. The personal factors like community, education qualification, type of family and family size shows a significant difference on the type of enterprise. The personal factors age, community, marital status and family size of the respondents have a significant difference on the type of organization and all the personal factor has a significant difference on the nature of business. Contributing to the family income is the important motive for starting an enterprise of their own.