Female entrepreneurs on the up and up

More women are becoming entrepreneurs compared to last year, according to a recent survey. The survey also found service-driven industries to be the most popular among women starting businesses.

The most popular trade for female entrepreneurs is hairdressing, followed by beauticians and cleaners. The top ten also includes pet minders, cake makers and market traders, as well as caterers, teachers and financial advisers. There has been a 95 percent rise in women market traders over the past year.

The survey carried out by a fellow insurance broker found women were keen to seize the opportunity to work for themselves and grow a business they have control over. Women accounted for more than a third of all business start-ups last year.

Among popular businesses were cake baking as well as business in the traditionally public sector spheres of education and health, with female start-up education consultants up by almost two thirds and independent nursing businesses up by almost a half.

Women are also looking to the market to find niche businesses such as pet-minding, which has grown dramatically over the past year, as have health and beauty businesses including complementary therapies.

Are you a woman in business? When did you set up and what made you decide to be self employed?