Female entrepreneurs across the UK are working longer hours, taking on second jobs and facing renewed financial strain as economic pressures mount, according to a major new study from Tide and everywoman.
The Female Business Owners Index 2025 reveals that 39 per cent of women founders say this year has been harder than 2024, with falling consumer spending, inflation and political uncertainty continuing to squeeze margins and stall growth.
Despite the tough trading environment, the research paints a picture of extraordinary resilience. A growing number of women are pushing themselves harder to keep their businesses afloat, with more than half now working longer hours and almost one in four taking a second job to sustain their ventures. Many say the economic climate has made entrepreneurship increasingly demanding, with weaker household spending power affecting more than a third of women-led companies. Inflationary pressures and political instability have also contributed to a challenging year.
Even so, optimism remains strikingly strong. Two-thirds of female entrepreneurs expect their revenues to rise over the next 12 months, and nearly one in five believe the year ahead could be transformational, predicting revenue increases of up to 100 per cent. Rather than waiting for conditions to improve, many are pursuing bold expansion strategies, exploring new markets, investing in digitisation and looking to grow their teams. There is also a renewed focus on upskilling, with a significant proportion of founders identifying training and capability building as essential to their growth plans.
However, access to finance remains one of the most persistent barriers facing women in business. Despite their ambition, female founders continue to receive a disproportionately small share of UK investment, with just two pence in every pound of equity funding going to women-led ventures.
Nearly a third of the women surveyed said that the difficulty of securing loans or investment capital is limiting their ability to scale, while many called for targeted grants and tax relief to help navigate the economic environment. Confidence also plays a role, with a quarter of respondents admitting that self-doubt has held them back, and a similar proportion citing gaps in operational or financial knowledge as impediments.
Tide, which has spent the past three years supporting thousands of women through its Women in Business programme, says targeted support remains essential. The company is on track to meet its pledge of helping launch 200,000 female-led businesses by 2027 and has joined forces with everywoman on a new year-long initiative designed to equip women entrepreneurs with the practical tools, contacts and confidence they need to scale.
The report’s findings will also inform the Tide everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, where one exceptional female-founded small business will receive a £20,000 grant to accelerate growth. The awards, held in association with BGF, take place on 2 December at The Londoner in Leicester Square.
George Schmidt, CEO of Tide UK/Europe, said the findings demonstrate the determination of women entrepreneurs across the country. He said that many are working harder than ever, taking on additional jobs and still maintaining the ambition to grow, noting that “the fortitude of women entrepreneurs across the UK is remarkable”. He added that Tide remains committed to breaking down the barriers that hinder women’s success.
Nicole Goodwin, joint managing director of AllBright everywoman, said that female founders were showing “true grit” and that their optimism was not misplaced but strategic, enabling women-led companies to remain a force for innovation despite the headwinds.
Among the founders featured in the report was Fallon Nelson, who runs inclusive lingerie brand Empress Me Intimates. She said access to funding had been one of her biggest challenges, even with strong demand and proven need. She remains optimistic, however, and plans to continue growing her community through events, storytelling campaigns and collaborations while she continues to seek financial backing.