Confidence Level
Female small business operators' (females) confidence in their knowledge of doing business using the Internet lags behind male small business operators (males); however, females demonstrate greater confidence that they understand how their customers and competitors use the Internet.

• Knowledge of the Internet
  • Females -- 56 percent rated their knowledge a seven or higher
  • Males -- 66 percent rated their knowledge seven or higher
• Knowledge of e-commerce
  • Females -- 45 percent rated their knowledge seven or higher
  • Males -- 54 percent rated their knowledge seven or higher
• Knowledge of how customers use the Internet
  • Females -- 44 percent rated their knowledge of seven or higher
  • Males -- 44 percent rated their knowledge seven or higher
• Knowledge of how competitors use the Internet
  • Females -- 58 percent rated their knowledge of seven or higher
  • Males -- 41 percent rated their knowledge seven or higher

Value of the Internet
Females place higher value in the Internet than their male counterparts, especially when considering the future of their business.

• Importance of the Internet to the future of their business
  • Females -- 47 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
  • Males -- 37 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
• Importance of on-line sales capability
  • Females -- 50 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
  • Males -- 24 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
• Importance of security
  • Females -- 65 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
  • Males -- 52 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
• Importance of customer database managemet systems
  • Females -- 56 percent rated the importance a seven or higher
  • Males -- 61 percent rated the importance a seven or higher

Usage of the Internet
Both females and males have embraced mainstream Internet tools and have started adopting more advanced uses of the Web.

• Have high speed Internet connections (including T1, T3, and satellites)
  • Females -- 23 percent
  • Males -- 29 percent
• Use a domain name for their Web sites
  • Females -- 90 percent
  • Males -- 97 percent
• Use the Internet for research and communications
  • Females -- 54 percent
  • Males -- 46 percent
• Use for Internet e-mail
  • Females -- 64 percent
  • Males -- 58 percent
• Use for Internet banking
  • Females -- 30 percent
  • Males -- 35 percent