Potential Business
Opportunities for Women
Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh
Prepared By: Delphi
Prepared For
Dr. A. F. M. Aowrangazab
Professor
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Group Members
•
•
•
•
•
Rubina Easmin
Khaleda Begum
Tumpa Barua
Sammi Akter
Tazin Ismat Niti
4th Year BBA
Session: 2005-2006
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Contents
Potential
Business
Opportunities
for
Women
Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh
Nursery Business
Catering Business
Party Planning Business
Grocery Delivery Business
Home Decoration Business
Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Obstacle for Women Entrepreneurs
Challenges & Suggestions for Women Entrepreneurs
Personal Profile
Rubina Easmin
Class Roll:4910
Exam Roll: 2006/92
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Potential Business Opportunities for
Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh
An entrepreneur is someone who undertakes an enterprise,
owns and manages a business with a vision to making a
profit by using innovative ideas.
Entrepreneurship depends on specific knowledge, skills,
mentalities and attitudes.
In principle, there should be no difference between men
and women.
In reality, various constraints limit women’s opportunities
to realise their full potential.
Bangladesh is an example of this unfortunate trend.
Influential NGOs are making a difference however.
Potential Business Opportunities for
Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh
Many opportunities can be started even from one's home,
and this is applicable to women who also take care of their
families.





Find out what interests you.
Determine how much start-up cost you can afford.
Look around for what your neighbors’ needs.
Take advantage of your resources
Be open to more ideas.
Nursery Business
If a woman have some space, a source of water, and a ton
of ambition, she may try at operating a plant nursery.
Steps in Nursery Business:
Check the legal authorities in your location
Business license
Property zoning
Availability of water for irrigation
Costs in Nursery Business:
The costs of nursery production includeOverhead Cost,
Direct & Marketing Costs.
Personal Profile
Khaleda Begum
Class Roll:5011
Exam Roll: 2006/68
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Catering Business
The catering business is one of the most lucrative &
profitable home businesses with a high potential for
expansion & growth. It is both financially rewarding & fun.
A catering business is best suited for a person who has
passion for cooking and planning.
Type of Catering Business:
 Mobile catering
 Event catering
 Boxed Lunch Catering
Catering Business
Needed Equipment
 Other than a commercial kitchen, the only things a
woman need to get started are a phone and a delivery
vehicle.
 A computer and printer are always nice but not a
necessity for starters.
 A woman can get around the kitchen problem by
arranging to use a restaurant's facility for a small fee in
its off-hours or by sharing the rental costs of a
commercial kitchen and its use with other caterers.
Party Planning Business
Party planning requires very little start-up money, so it could
be the perfect choice for those with small capital.
As an events coordinator or party planner, one will be
involved in organizing all details of occasions such as
anniversary celebrations, family reunions, birthday
parties, weddings, retirement parties etc.
Instructions:
 Team up with an experienced party planner to gain
experience & learn the trade before start own business.
 Great multi-tasking skills is necessary.
 Decide how to charge for the services.
 Understand food and beverage.
 Know all about entertainment choices.
Party Planning Business
A general guideline to start a party planning business are:





Determine the start-up costs & find funds to launch
business
Organize oneself to easily handle the multiple projects
which have to work on
Hire part- & full-time employees
Market one’s services to bring in the business
Expand one’s offerings to offer complete party
packages·.
Personal Profile
Tumpa Barua
Class Roll:4923
Exam Roll: 2006/57
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Grocery Delivery Business
Start a grocery delivery business and making it
successful could be the beginning of a highly profitable
small business venture.
Steps of Grocery Delivery Business
 Find a good location for your business.
 Decide the delivery charges and fees.
 Determine the delivery timeline.
 Market the grocery delivery business by advertising.
Source of financing
 Primary source
 Secondary source
Interior Decoration
There are few careers that offer so many benefits. As an
interior decorator women will have the satisfaction of
making their vision a reality.
Steps to be an interior decorator
 Train your eye and Educate yourself
 Practice at home.
 Prepare a portfolio and Start your own business.
 Establish relationships with suppliers and Get clients.
 Grow as a professional
Source of financing
 Self-investment
 Public and private bank and financial institution
Personal Profile
Sammi Akter
Class Roll:5013
Exam Roll: 2006/85
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Bangladesh Women Chamber of
Commerce & Industry
BWCCI’s Major Programs and Services:







Communication and information support through business
center.
Provide support to women entrepreneurs in marketing of their
product and services at local, national and international level
Facilitate women SME to participate in national and
international trade fair
Helpdesk and legal advice particularly for company registration,
TIN and VAT registration, export and import procedures
Facilitate women entrepreneurs to get access to finance, act as
loan guarantor
Develop network and partnership with NGO, community based
organizations, civil society organizations, business community,
donor organization at the local, national and international level
to promote women in business and industry.
Advocacy for policy formulation and execution in favor of
women in business and industry
Obstacle for Women Entrepreneurs
Registration & Legal Obligations:
Women face a lot of obstacles at Govt. offices while making
or renewing trade license, ISO Certificate or such other
document.
Complicated taxation rules & nontransparent procedures
make it very difficult for women entrepreneurs to handle
matters independently.
Fund Generation:
Women face lot of problem getting loans approved and in
cases end up paying interest at much higher.
Obstacle for Women Entrepreneurs
Social Negativity:
There is a class of people who are unwilling to support
women entrepreneurs.
Unskilled or Semiskilled Workforces:
Unskilled workforce employed by SMEs, result in lower
quality product and inefficient production process that
lead to lower productivity.
Procurement of Raw Materials:
Due to lack of enough working capital, SME business
women pay higher price since they cannot buy in bulk.
Personal Profile
Tazin Ismat Niti
Class Roll:4913
Exam Roll: 2006/78
Department of Management Studies
University of Chittagong
Challenges for Potential Women
Entrepreneurs
 Limited
access to credit, marketing networks & modern
technology
 Lack of self-confidence and personal security
 Risks of
harassment and other social and cultural
barriers
 Restrictions on mobility
 Low educational levels and scant training opportunities
 Heavy household chores
 Lack of peer-support networks
 Inferior status in society and gender-biases in general
 Severe competition from organised units both in domestic
and international markets.
Suggestions for Increasing Women
Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh
Women entrepreneurs should be provided special facilities
to develop their enterprises. These include:
 Development Banks with separate advisory service cell
for women
 Arrangement of exclusive fairs to promote products
manufactured by small & cottage based units
 Fixed quota of stalls for women entrepreneurs at export
fairs
 Special market facilities both in the domestic and the
international arena
 For new women enterprise tax may considerably reduced
or exempted
 The procedure for Tax Identification Certificate should be
simplified
 Procedure for Income Tax should simplified and made
investment friendly
Conclusion
A research study conducted by the Bangladesh Women
Chamber of Commerce and Industry reveals that women
entrepreneurs are more likely to hire other women.
In addition to creating jobs opportunities for women, such a
trend will result in an overall increase in the progress of
women in the country. Greater participation of women in
remunerative work will not only improve their living
conditions but also improve their bargaining positions.
Employed women will have better access to mainstream
banking services which will help them to save & invest their
income in tangible assets.
Thanks for Being With Us