The first years of a micro, small or medium -sized company (MSME) They are decisive to define their stability over time. Although there are more and more entrepreneurs led by women, they continue to face operational and financial barriers that reduce their probabilities of success.
If a woman undertakes a business, he could have a Average life 6.92 years, much less than 13.31 years that could be maintained if it were led by a manaccording to a study by the National Council for Promotion and Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Promipyme).
This means that early life of one MSME They are reduced to 6.39 years if they are led by a woman. Its director, Fabricio Gómezexplained that there is a complex interaction of factors that impact banking and access to credit for MSMEs led by womendue to gaps attributable to gender discrimination.
He pointed out that MSMEs led by women They present several characteristics that make them perceived as “of greater risk” for financing suppliersamong them:
- They are younger projects
- They are dedicated to the services sector – such as accommodation or beauty salons –
- They have fewer workers than those of men
- They are usually registered as an accounts for a single owner).
Being labeled with Risk profiles higher, the Suppliers “They restrict access to credit,” said the official after presenting the study “Banking and access to credit For MSMEs in the Dominican Republic: a gender perspective based on the Enhogar-2022 “.
More savings accounts than currents
In the presentation of the analysis, Gomez explained that they exist significant differences “In all Financial products For MSMEs “led by men, versus those in which women head it.
“The gap is maintained in two essential elements for any company: in the current account and on the credit line “he said.
In fact, according to the study, only 45.38 % of the entrepreneurs have one savings accountwhile in products such as Current accounts or the credit lines “Participation is very limited.”
They are also evidenced Loan gaps personal and commercial in the informal banking If compared to the MSMEs headed by a man, unless the loan is informal, where the margins “are much smaller.”
“That is: women go (towards) informal loans In greater proportion with which they go to commercial and personal (formal) loans, “Gomez said.
Less employees
Similarly, small businesses led by women tend to Use less personnel than their male peers.
“The data suggest that women led by women not only face Challenges to climb or grow, but also to maintain its operation in the long term. This difference constitutes a crucial factor that influences access to the financial resource, its ability to have credit history and its resilience against changes in the market, “he emphasized.
