Exploring the myth- women-led small businesses have low growth aspirations!

This research examines the phenomenon of small firm growth as it applies to the established female owner-managed business to build on the lacuna of Irish empirical research on this topic. In particular, issues such as their perception of firm growth, the objectives and strategies for growth, and the challenges encountered in achieving firm growth are examined. The study concludes that female owner-managers have definite objectives for business growth which are achieved through a focus on product and market development. The challenges encountered in growing their business are in the majority of instances non-gender specific and relate to internal management issues.