Women-owned SMEs are overcoming the financial challenges posed by exporting. More than half of active women exporters use personal funds and retained earnings to capitalize the firm. Short-term export financing is achieved through lines of credit, letters of credit and guarantees of receivables. Less than one in four of the companies surveyed are service-oriented. This confirms the findings of previous research that exporters are primarily focused in manufacturing, however does not reflect the higher service orientation of Canadian women business owners, in general.
Businesswomen have mixed views on export support services.
Survey data indicate varying levels of awareness, usage, and satisfaction with public and private sector export support programs. The study reveals a need to review export programming in order to determine its effectiveness in helping women-owned SMEs to achieve their international trade goals.