FEHQ Voices
— Issue #001
A regular feature
FEHQ Voices
Issue #001 · March 2026
What's the hardest thing about being a female entrepreneur?
Every month I'm going to ask female entrepreneurs one question. No agenda, no "right" answer, just an honest conversation about what this actually looks and feels like. I'll share the responses here along with their business details, because the people behind the answers deserve visibility too.
This is the first one. I asked on Threads: What do you find the hardest thing about being a female entrepreneur? And I'm adding responses as they come in, so if you haven't answered yet, you absolutely still can. Drop it in the Threads thread or the Instagram comments and I'll include you.
My answer first
I always think it's only fair I answer too. So here's mine.
Linsey — Founder, Female Entrepreneurs HQ
For me it's the invisible mental load. Not the actual work — I can handle the work. It's everything around it. The second-guessing whether I'm charging enough. The guilt when I'm working instead of being present with my daughter, and the guilt when I step away from the business to be present with my daughter.
The constant low-level hum of am I doing this right, is this going to work, what if it doesn't?
Nobody tells you that running a business as a woman can feel like you're doing it with one hand tied behind your back, not because anyone is stopping you, but because you've internalised so many reasons to doubt yourself that you do it to yourself without even noticing.
What you said
Growing — add yours belowResponses shared with permission. This post updates as new answers come in — last updated March 2026.
The constant stream of women who insist the mental load and invisible labour we carry is a mindset issue. It's not. Women carry the entire family, and their needs in their heads and the makes life happen in their household. It's not something you can ignore or fix with a honey-do list. Women jn business have it tough because the patriarchy. Women would be more successful if they didnt have to worry about getting packed lunches made.
Being taken seriously from day one… you have to prove your worth twice as much before people trust your work.
Want to be featured here?
Share your answer on Threads or in the Instagram comments — I read every reply and add them to this post (with your permission and a link to your business).
About FEHQ Voices
A regular feature sharing real answers from real female entrepreneurs
Each month I ask one question and open it up to the community. Every response gets featured here with a link to your business — because you deserve visibility, not just a like. If you'd like to be included in a future edition, follow @femaleentrepreneurshq on Threads or join the community at femaleentrepreneurs.co.uk.
Want more conversations like this?
Female Entrepreneurs HQ is a membership community built around connection over competition. Honest conversations, no hustle culture.
Join the community →Thank you to everyone who's answered so far, and to everyone who does in the future. You make this what it is.
Linsey x