Factors Affecting the Performance of Businesses Owned By Female Entrepreneurs in Kenya

A Research Project Report Submitted to the School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)This study was carried out to examine the factors that affect the performance of businesses owned by female entrepreneurs in SMEs. It also examines the characteristics of these entrepreneurs in their enterprises and the ability of the entrepreneurs to operate their businesses at maximum performance. A sample of 60 entrepreneurs was taken for the study using simple random and stratified sampling. The questionnaire collects information on the entrepreneurs’ demographic profiles, the characteristics of the female entrepreneurs running their own enterprises, and the optimization of business performance. After data collection, simple statistical techniques, such as percentages and tables, as well as descriptive statistics like standard deviations and mean were used for data analysis. The findings of the study demonstrate that the personal characteristics of female entrepreneurs in the SMEs affects the performance of their businesses. It also indicates that lack of own operating premises, stiff competition, financial access, inadequate access to training, access to raw materials and access to technology were the key economic factors that have an influence on the performance of the business owned by female entrepreneurs in Kenyan SMEs. The study also found that social acceptability, conflicting gender roles, and networking with outsiders were the major social factors that affect these entrepreneurs. Based on the findings, the following recommendations have been made: female entrepreneurs should be given training so that they can run their business more strategically so that they can contribute to the economic growth of the country. The government should also put up policies and make financing more available to encourage more young people and women to set up businesses