Most company-owning mothers believe the skills they have developed bringing up children are key to their business success, new research reveals.

Some 92 per cent of mums taking part in the study said abilities such as multi-tasking, planning ahead and efficiency honed while looking after their offspring were the key drivers behind their business achievements.

In other findings from the poll by Yell.com, 40 per cent of females said they got the idea to start their own company whilst pregnant or within a year of giving birth, with the same proportion admitting that pregnancy forced a change of priorities and a desire to be based at home.

In addition, the report claimed that busy entrepreneurial mothers perform 18 different job roles during their working week, from cooking and accountancy to marketing and event coordination - tasks they would be forced to pay someone else £50,000 a year to carry out.

Beauty, health and childcare sectors were the most popular sector choices for respondents, although telecommunications and financial services were also picked by many.

Sarah Steel, who runs a children's nurseries business, said: "I had intended to go back to work, but I had what I call an 'I can do that' moment while on maternity leave, and I haven't looked back since.

"I've faced a lot of challenges in the last few years, juggling work with a hectic home life, but it's all been worthwhile and I wouldn't change a thing!"

Yell commissioned the study to mark its sponsorship of the Inspirational Business Mum of the Year category at the 2008 Prowess Awards.