Impact of COVID-19 on Entrepreneurship and Consumer Behaviour: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia

COVID-19 presented the world with a severe loss of life and impact, which has no geographical bounds or expected time to when its effects will subside. It has affected countries across the globe, disrupting economic levels and businesses in every industry while also altering individuals' everyday lives. The current research aims to examine the impact of coronavirus pandemic on entrepreneur's business activities and their perceptions on the difference in consumer behavior during this time. The findings reveal the pandemic negatively impacted business productivity and profits, forcing many businesses to physically close permanently. Surprisingly, female entrepreneurs do not perceive a change in consumer behavior compared to pre-COVID-19 times. Interestingly, the results indicate there is a negative impact on employees' efficiency to conduct work in which almost no research has conveyed such a finding. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 445 responses from male and female entrepreneurs in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using a simple random sample over the period of four months. Ultimately, this research will help entrepreneurs gain more knowledge and a deeper understanding of this new environment necessary to undertaking certain measures and adaptability in order to sustain their businesses during unprecedented times.