The SBA has released a study called "Are Male and Female Entrepreneurs Really That Different?" The answer appears to be no when it comes to performance. From the study:
"When other factors are controlled for, gender does not affect new venture performance".
The study does point out a number of differences between male and femal entrepreneurs. Most have to do with the motivations and expectations around starting a business. From the study:
"Male owners were more likely to start a business to make money, had higher expectations for their business, and did more research to identify business opportunities."
This fits with our research which shows women are more likely than men to start a business as part of a broader work/life balance plan. Because of this, expectations and motivations are often different.
Our research also shows that men are starting to take more interest in work/life balance, so these differences may narrow over the next few years.
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