%0 Journal Article
%T Rural and urban women entrepreneurs: A comparison of service needs and delivery methods priorities
%A Davis
%A A.
%J International Journal of Business Science and Applied Management
%D 2011
%I International Journal of Business Science and Applied Management
%X Women entrepreneurs face a wide variety of barriers and challenges throughout the life and growth of their entrepreneurial venture. This study expands the knowledge base on women entrepreneurs¡¯ needs, specifically their needs in terms of service areas and service delivery method preferences. Twenty three ¡°needed¡± service areas were identified by 95 Manitoba based women entrepreneurs. The first five included: finding new customers, growth benefits and tools, market expansion, general marketing, and networking skills. This study also examined the differences between urban and rural based entrepreneurs. Two service need areas ¡°how to find mentors and role models¡± and ¡°legal issues¡± exhibited statistically significant priority differences. Service delivery methods did not produce any statistically significant differences. Overall, this study concludes that regardless of location, women entrepreneurs¡¯ training and support needs are not significantly that different. The effects of entrepreneurial stage and years in business on entrepreneurial support needs are also examined.
%K entrepreneurship
%K women owned businesses
%K urban and rural communities
%K entrepreneurial training
%K business education
%K business support services
%K Canada
%U http://www.business-and-management.org/download.php?file=2011/6_2--1-16-Davis.pdf