Entrepreneurial Motivation and Challenges: A Study on Women Entrepreneurs in Punjab

Women entrepreneurs play a significant role in the development of the economy. The present study aims to portray the socioeconomic profile of women entrepreneurs, factor influencing the women entrepreneurship and also identify the problems and challenges faced by them. Both primary and secondary data were used. The primary data were collected through field survey with the help of well-designed questionnaire from a sample of 320 women entrepreneurs. Majority of women who opted for entrepreneurship belonged to the age group of 31 to 50 years. The analysis revealed that desire to attain the freedom and independence was the major motivating factor and leisure time on hand was considered to be the main compelling reason to start an enterprise. The results revealed that a financial constraint was the major problem faced by women entrepreneurs. The present study will help the government to take further initiatives and make policies to minimize the constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in Punjab.