Women Business Entrepreneurs

There are literally millions of women business entrepreneurs and the numbers are growing daily. These women business entrepreneurs own and operate businesses of every kind, from sales to service to home-based businesses ranging from computer services to agricultural enterprises. In 2005, there were over 10 million women-owned businesses in the US. and women business entrepreneurs start new businesses at twice the rate of men.

Although more women business entrepreneurs are starting businesses than are their male counterparts, they have more difficulty in getting original financing. There are several sources of financing, however, for women business entrepreneurs. Some state and local development departments can offer some assistance if approached with a good plan. The National Association of Women in Business will also assist beginning women business entrepreneurs. Community banks are sometimes a source of initial funding for women
business entrepreneurs, but may require previous credit and a sound business plan to consider offering some financing for startups.

The existing 10 million plus women-owned businesses now in the US represent 28% of all businesses. In the years from 1997 to 2002, businesses operated by women business entrepreneurs grew well over 50%. An interesting statistic concerning women business entrepreneurs is the number of businesses owned and operated by Hispanic and Asian women business entrepreneurs. This is the fastest growing segment of such businesses, increasing during the cited period by around 65%.

Among small women-owned businesses, many receive initial funding from family and friends. This is possibly true among the Hispanic and Asian communities which could be accountable for the faster increase in women business entrepreneurs in these groups.

Not only in the US, but around the world, women are increasingly founding their own businesses. In developing and under-developed countries women often start a home-based business in agriculture, where these women business entrepreneurs may be able to start cultiating a garden or raising pigs with as little as $800 initial financing. There are organizations through which one can contribute to help women business entrepreneurs in struggling countries worldwide.

< Back To Women in Business Next Previous