39. Tammy May
Company: MyBudget
Established: 2000
Revenue: $3.9 million
Tammy May's business tackles one of Australia's great problems – debt. The company, established 10 years ago, specialises in helping people manage their finances by analysing their income, debts and expenses and developing a budget to help them stay out of trouble. In the current economic environment, it's no surprise to learn May's business is booming, with a revenue target of $7.5 million for 2009-10. Her best advice is to build a business you are passionate about. "Having a clear passion for something that helps others gives you many advantages. It means you can create a unique culture and it makes your business strategy and business plan much easier to write. The strategy then becomes about delivering on your passion."
40. Bec Brideson
Company: Venus Advertising
Established: 2004
Revenue: $3.5 million
Bec Brideson's livelihood depends on her ability to understand women – after all, her advertising firm Venus Advertising specialises in communicating with the female market. Brideson says it is an area that has been largely ignored by advertising firms. "When Venus began, only 6% of women ever achieved the position of creative director in advertising. Less than 1% actually started their own business. The lack of women in top positions is totally disproportionate to their role in the home as the core decision-maker of household spend. There is an 'empathy gap', with 85% of women missing communication created by the men writing the ideas." Her message to other female entrepreneurs is simple. "You can have it all. Women can be mothers too, and this change in life stage forces one to become remarkably organised, resourceful and time-efficient. You can do both and be successful in both roles."
41. Ryll Burgin
Company: 10X Limited
Established: 2007
Revenue: $3.43 million
Ryll Burgin founded 10X Limited with Nic Clark, Michael Sheargold and Rob Nixon three years ago. The business focuses on providing business coaching through franchise arrangements with accounting firms. Like many of the female entrepreneurs on this list, Burgin believes there are no barriers for female entrepreneurs. "As a young business woman, it never even occurred to me that I might experience any resistance or limiting factors by being a woman in business. In fact, from a young age, I didn't just believe in equal opportunity, I expected nothing less, and this has always been my personal experience."
42. Kirsten Roberts
Company: Spudbar
Established: 2002
Revenue: $3.2 million
When Kirsten Roberts became co-owner and chief executive of Spudbar she set about transforming the business from a loose collection of businesses operating under the same name to a robust franchise network. The company's niche - baked potatoes stuffed with flavours that people don't expect – is largely untapped and Roberts says there is no branded competition that does what Spudbar does.
While Roberts says it is getting slightly easier for women to start a business, she says much depends on an entrepreneur's home situation. "I think the biggest impact on how hard or easy it is for males versus females, is the personal situation at home. How much support is there from spouses, compromises on duties, pickup times, parental responsibilities, etc? To me, that is the biggest driver on the differences between males and females in starting or running a business."
