The phenomenal growth of women-owned businesses has made headlines for three decades.
The total number of women-owned businesses doubled between 1992 and 2006, growing from 5.4 million to 10.4 million---and the number is growing at twice the national average for all businesses. Women also have consistently have been launching new enterprises at twice the rate of men and their growth rates of employment and revenue have outpaced the economy.
Women-owned businesses (50% or more women-owned) include retail stores (14%), professional, scientific and technical services (14%), health care (14%), real estate (9%), administrative (8%), construction (5%), arts, entertainment (4%), accommodations, food services (3%), other services (14%) and all other (14%).
As one of the millions of aspiring female small business owners, you may be ready, willing and able to kickstart and run your own enterprise. Have a coach, mentor and guidebook can help you translate your vision into a reality by learning how to:
draft a solid business plan
raise start-up capital
choose a legal structure
manage finances and taxes
promote your business online
hire quality contractors and employees
Despite the huge diversity of businesses that women entrepreneurs run, there are common threads and themes in the experiences women report, such as the challenge of keeping work and personal life in balance, and the difficulty marketing your venture and obtaining start-up or expansion financing. Having support is important in doing things like writing a business plan, managing your finances or launching a website.