72% of female UK entrepreneurs believe running their own business has had a positive impact on their family life, according to new research from Vistaprint’s Women-owned Micro Businesses Trend Report.* The freedom to take control of their own lives, and therefore decide how and when to fit work in around other life commitments, is the top reason for the nation’s women choosing to start their own business.

However, harmony at home for a micro business owner doesn’t come easily. The report, which explores the attitudes and challenges of female entrepreneurs in the UK and US, also revealed that achieving the right work-life balance is still the biggest challenge they face (62%). Limited access to funding (50%) and gender discrimination (35%) made up the rest of the top three.

Colleen Wong from Teddington, owner of Techsixtyfour, started her business in 2015 having previously left her job in an investment bank to start a family. Colleen comments: “Juggling work, family and life is a major challenge and sometimes we try to have it all. But it’s important not to feel guilty if everything isn’t perfect. My kids watch TV when I need to make important calls and my partner is on his own most evenings as I need to work. I used to feel guilty about all these things and more but I don’t anymore. As long as you try your best that’s all anyone can do.”

 Working mums

Contrary to fears that the added responsibility of childcare might hinder the ability to run a successful business, the study also showed that women with larger families had a more positive outlook for the future of their company. In fact, 64% of entrepreneurial mums with three or more children expect their business to grow over the next five years. An overriding driving factor for this is the desire to do well and set a good example for their children, to show them that working hard and following your passion does pay off.

TrynkaShineman, President of Vistaprint says: “It’s inspiring to see the vast majority of female business owners feel that their home life and personal satisfaction has benefited from running their own business. They have more control over their schedules and get more choice over the work they actually want to do. At Vistaprint we have the opportunity to work with millions of business owners around the world. We find that what many of them have in common is how much they are driven by this freedom, along with the enjoyment of pursuing their passion, over dreams of huge financial success.”

More information and the full report, including a breakdown of both the US and UK results, can be found via http://news.vistaprint.com/woman-owned-micro-businesses-trend-report