Abstract

Although the percentage of the women entrepreneurs is increasing day by day, it is still at low level and the survival duration of their workplaces is short. Therefore, in Turkey, there is a requirement for the researches and projects concerning how to be able to increase the number of the female entrepreneurs and improve their business management. The research sought answers to the questions: “What are the personality characteristics necessary for women entrepreneurs?” and “What are the basic factors underlying of the women entrepreneurs’ ideas about the entrepreneurship?” Due to these reasons, in this study, Tekirdag is taken as a sample. The problems that the women who operate in entrepreneurship activities in business life and their entrepreneurship are dealt with and investigated. There are approximately 800 female entrepreneurs who are registered to trade association and operate actively in Tekirdag. In this study, a questionnaire is carried out face to face with 10% of these women entrepreneurs from various business lines. As a result of the study, it is determined that a significant majority of the women entrepreneurs in Tekirdag are young or in the middle aged group (77 and 5%), their businesses have the characteristics of a micro of small businesses and these businesses are mostly established with their own effort or with the support of their families or their spouses. The most crucial inconveniences they face at the business establishment phase are the lack of funds and knowledge. “Being industrious and combative” are the leading personality characteristics of them. This study will overcome the deficiencies about the lack of scientific study on female entrepreneurs, which will encourage the women in terms of entrepreneurship and will aid the constitution of new policies on this issue.

Key words: Women, entrepreneurs, economics, problems, Turkey.