According to the Kauffman Foundation infographic, 88% of women-owned businesses in the U.S. in 2007 were sole proprietorships, and women-owned businesses accounted for 6.4% of total employment.
By Angie Chang (Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Women 2.0)
Women-owned businesses play an increasingly important role in revenue and job creation. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 7.8 million women-owned businesses in the United States in 2007, generating revenue of $1.2 trillion and employing 7.6 million people.
The Kauffman Foundation released a book called A Rising Tide with financial strategies that have helped women entrepreneurs.
The book takes a lifecycle approach when discussing issues and strategies for women-owned businesses, from early-stage and home-based firms to high-growth and high-tech startups.
Each chapter covers case studies and the latest research on financing women-owned businesses and its implications for actual or potential entrepreneurs. The book draws on a Kauffman Firm Survey to provide best practices for women looking to start businesses in the next few years. (Disclosure: the Kauffman Foundation provides some underwriting for Women 2.0.)
According to the infographic below from the Kauffman Foundation, 88% of women-owned businesses in the U.S. in 2007 were sole proprietorships, and women-owned businesses accounted for 6.4% of total employment. Given this reality and the current economic recession, we hope that in the coming years women launch more high-growth businesses. Women 2.0 is here to support you in your high-growth entrepreneurial journey.
Visualizing A Rising Tide
“Women boldly take on new opportunities, but often these opportunities require additional financial resources and new financial strategies,” said Alicia Robb, a senior fellow with the Kauffman Foundation.”
“We show that women entrepreneurs are securing those resources and are proving to be adept in overcoming existing obstacles. They are the pioneers and the role models for the generations of women entrepreneurs who come after them.”
Angie Chang co-founded Women 2.0 in 2006. She currently serves as Editor-In-Chief of Women 2.0 and is working to mainstream women in high-growth, high-tech entrepreneurship. Previously, Angie held roles in product management and web UI design. In 2008, Angie launched Bay Area Girl Geek Dinners, asking that guys come as the “+1” for once. Angie holds a B.A. in English and Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. Follow her on Twitter at @thisgirlangie.