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Previous: Google and Your Business When I was a child, most women - at least most married women - didn't work. (Ok, Ok, so I'm old Even when I had my own children, women were pretty much expected to stay home with the kids - or be a teacher or work at some kind of part-time job that let them be home when the kids were. A few had businesses, but being a business owner just wasn't something many women ever really considered then. Fortunately, much has changed over the years, and an increasing number of women are starting their own businesses now. In fact, the latest available statistics from the US SBA Office of Advocacy whos that women-owned businesses increased nearly 20 percent from 1997 to 2002. That figure compares to an increas of 7 percent for all US firms. As a woman business owner, myself, I'm thrilled to hear of those statistics. Here are some other findings from the report: * In 2002, women owned 6.5 million or 28.2 percent of nonfarm U.S. * Women-owned firms accounted for 6.5 percent of total employment in U.S. * Of all women business owners in 2002, 85.95 percent were White, 8.43 percent African American, 8.33 percent of Hispanic heritage, 5.25 percent Asian, 1.23 percent American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.18 percent Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (total does not add to 100 due to some double counting across ethnic groups). * According to 2002 data, significant proportions of women-owned businesses were in professional, scientific, and technical services, and in health care and social assistance. The complete report is available at Comments Unfortunately it is still common for people to assume a business owner is a man. Hopefully that assumption will change over the years as more and more women do start their own businesses and serve as roll models and mentors to the younger generation as they are entering the workforce or even earlier when they are starting to consider various career paths. After all, you have to be able to envision a goal in order to set a path to reach it. Posted by: Janet on August 22, 2006 at 9:20 PM It’s promising to see the statistics rise in favor of women businesses. As a minority woman business owner in a male dominated industry, I’m thankful that along the way there were men who weren’t afraid to give me a chance, and opened the door to do business with the other “guys” based solely on my intelligence and business acumen. It’s our responsibility to ensure that gender is no longer a qualification to becoming a successful business owner. Posted by: Jennell on August 23, 2006 at 1:52 PM I am a female business owner. I got help from my local SBA to create a business plan and forcast my revenue. All the SBA mentors are men. They thought I was not serious enough about my business. One told me that when I return in 6 months to review my businesses progress, they would write a success story on myself and business. Well low and behold, I have succeeded! I am still entergetic about my business and love what I do. I can go on and on. But I want to tell you a breif point. I was poor as you can be when I started. I had lost my job. I got a $250.00 loan in March of 2006. My business is now is flurishing. 6 months took me from nothing to now seeing rising sales and a future for myself and my children!! $250.00 can make your dreams of owning a business come true!! Posted by: Tara DAgostino on August 23, 2006 at 2:11 PM We have come a long way, but unfortunately we still have a long way to go before we are accepted as man’s equals. A woman has to work twice as hard as a man to be thought half as good, but a minority (particularly black) woman has it even worse. Posted by: Heels To Hammers on September 5, 2006 at 1:36 PM You guys seem like you’ve been through a lot in your businesses. I just started my own business 1 year ago in direct mailinging and the looks I get from people is ridiculus. I’m 20 years old but I look like I’m 16 so people really think I’m a joke. It’s 10 times harder for younger women looking to start their own businesses. We just have to stick together and show the ignorant males who think we can’t handle it. Posted by: Fatima Johara on December 7, 2006 at 4:25 PM You go girl. Stick to your guns. Let no one stop us. Posted by: Madlina Stoey on December 13, 2006 at 5:51 PM It is so nice to hear from all the women who have succeeded in their own business. I am an older black women who is trying to start my own business. I’m just starting out of the gate, but determined to be successful. I work in the finance industry which is mostly (white) male. I have no college degree but have worked my way up the hard way. There is a ceiling for people like me which I have reached. I decided to take the same energy I have used which contributed to the success of the companies in the industry to benefit myself and my family. I know the only way to do this is to own my own business which has no limits. I was moved by the success stories I read and the happiness I hear from your words. I agree that this must be passed on. We do have to promote and support the generations of women behind us as well as the ones in front of us. Much continued success to you all. Posted by: Donna Herring on September 15, 2007 at 2:26 AM I am applauding any woman who has broken through the barriers of their sex status and the women who have overcome the challange of being a mom and owning their own business at the ssame time. It is even more difficult of a dream to achieve if you are a black woman.I feel proud of my self when I can say yes I have seven children,31 and I have started my own business…..currently I am trying to beat the belittlement to my new found position from the man that I love,but no matter what I will be strong. Posted by: lorissha on April 9, 2008 at 8:01 PM My exotic meat shipping company is still buzzing even as the economy teeters. Guess folks want gator meat no matter what. Anyway, with business good, I’d like to add health insurance for my employees. Places like Aetna and Blue Cross want too much, which I think is on account of their big time ad budgets. Anyways, I found a company that interests me. Posted by: Nellie Parker on November 3, 2008 at 8:21 PM |
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Women-Owned Businesses on the Rise
I loved this article. I think it is so important that women are represented and encouraged to become business owners. Even in my generation when one thinks of a company owner, they think it will most likey be a man. That is bogus. I even fall into that trap. A good friend of mine dragged me to this thing a few months back, HD EXPO because he wanted to check out some equipment or something. It ended up being really cool with a lot of stuff to see. Lots of technology. I, unfortunately, figured the owner would be a man. WRONG! When I found out it was a woman, Kristin …. I forget her last name but I was shocked. First, not only was this show huge but it was really technology based. So.. you go girl. Take over for all of us..
Posted by: Misty on August 22, 2006 at 8:01 PM