financial and operating performance of women owned micro and small enterprises

Abstract

This research study sought to financial and operating of women Owned MSEs in the case study jimma town. In conducting this study, wide range of literature on MSE in general and women operated MSEs in particular were reviewed. Women operators face different barriers, from realizing the full potential of their enterprises, and these include cultural, financial, business support ,education, training , regulatory and infrastructural obstacles as major ones. In this study, the target was 345 women owned micro and small enterprises operating in Jimma town. The research design used was both descriptive and explanatory design where the target population was divided into various groups or strata. Primary data was collected distribute questionnaires to the women entrepreneur and I used quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences and presented using percentages, frequencies and tables. This study established that poor business skills, unequal balance between domestic and business responsibilities, ineffective communication skills and poor personal financial credibility promoted discrimination based on gender hence financial operating performance of women owned MSEs in Jimma sub-city. The researcher forward recommendation to the Women operating their own business only push it to the extent it can generate enough amount that would assist them support their family. This limited scope they have for their enterprises is not intentional but is also the result of wide range of cultural, financial, business related obstacles. And Due to this reason they are forced to reduce their savings and amounts that may be used to support their family.