Female SME owners experienced and are expecting slightly better returns than male SME operators in 2012 and 2013, according to new research released this week by MYOB.
The MYOB 2012 Business Monitor March report surveyed 1004 business owners (408 women and 596 men) about their 2012 results and their expectations for the coming year.
Slightly more female business owners achieved a revenue increase in 2012, with 21% of female business owners compared to 17% of male business owners reporting a rise. Fewer women surveyed reported a revenue fall (38%, compared to 39% of males).
This trend continued into revenue expectations for the coming year, with 24% of men and 26% of women expecting “a little more” work and sales in the coming year. Four per cent of male operators and 6% of female operators surveyed said they were expecting a lot more. More than half of the surveyed SME operators expected revenue to increase of stay the same in the coming year.
The flow on from this anticipated revenue stability or growth into employment differed slightly also. Twenty per cent of male business owners intended to increase the amount they pay their staff in 2013, compared to 23% of female business owners.
Just 8% of male operators and 12% of female operators anticipated hiring more full time staff over the next year, while 14% of male operators and 21% of female operators plan to hire more part-time or casual employees in the coming year.