REDMOND, Wash. — June 6, 2008
What:
Women are starting small businesses to have more financial opportunity and flexibility in their lives, according to the results of a survey of approximately 600 entrepreneurial women. Microsoft Office Live Small Business (http://smallbusiness.officelive.com) fielded the survey to attendees of its Vision to Venture conference series for women entrepreneurs, recently held in five U.S. cities. The survey respondents were current or aspiring small-business owners who attended the conference. Aside from the top motivator of financial opportunity, other common reasons for starting a business were to be one’s own boss or to have better work-life balance.
The survey also revealed that only 39 percent are using the Web to manage and market their businesses.
To help empower women entrepreneurs with smart and simple strategies for starting and growing a business, a free, on-demand webcast of the Vision to Venture conference is available now through http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/Seminars/winningherway. More than 15,000 people have already registered for the webcast, which features expert speakers Susan Wilson Solovic, author of “The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million–Dollar Business” and co-founder of SBTV.com; Rich Sloan, author, radio host and co-founder of StartupNation LLC; and John Jantsch, author and founder of Duct Tape Marketing.
Summary of Survey Data:
The survey revealed the following top reasons for starting a business (in order):
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Financial opportunity
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The ability to be one’s own boss
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The need for better work-life balance
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Bringing to life a great business idea
In addition, the survey found that more than one-third of respondents think being a woman has had an overall positive impact on their entrepreneurial efforts.
Why:
Vision to Venture Conference Series and On-Demand Webcast. Microsoft Office Live Small Business created the Vision to Venture conference to provide a forum for entrepreneurial women to learn from national small-business experts, receive technology advice and network with other entrepreneurs.
When:
The webcast of the Vision to Venture event held May 9, 2008, in Redmond, Wash., is available now.
Where:
The Vision to Venture webcast can be viewed at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/Seminars/winningherway.
The Office Live Small Business Women’s Resource Center at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/ResourceCenter/women is full of articles, seminars and advice to help women start and grow their businesses.
About Microsoft Office Live Small Business
Microsoft Office Live Small Business is the award-winning service that offers a complete, affordable set of easy-to-use Internet-based tools that help small-business owners get online, attract customers and manage their business. More than 950,000 customers currently use Office Live Small Business in five countries: U.S., U.K., France, Germany and Japan. More information is available at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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