In the United States, women own 12.3 million businesses, showcasing a rising trend in female entrepreneurship.
Women are 5% more likely than men to venture into starting their own business, leading to the initiation of 1,821 new businesses every day last year.
To understand this growing dynamic, let me share with you the most important women in business statistics that you need to know immediately, without delay. 💼🌐
Women in Business Statistics: Key Findings
- 42% of all businesses in the U.S. are women-owned.
- 12.3 million businesses in the U.S. are owned by women.
- Women-owned businesses employ over 9.4 million workers.
- Women started 1,821 new businesses every day last year.
- Women started more businesses (49%) than men (42%) in 2021.
- Businesses created by women fail 28% less than those created by men.
- Women are 5% more likely than men to start their own business.
- Women own 33% of all small businesses worldwide.
- 99% of small businesses owned by women think the federal government could do more to help them.
- 89% said the playing field for female small businesses is not level compared to male-owned businesses.
Sources: (NWBC, Blackthorn, Gusto, UOC, BusinessDIT, World Bank, Goldman Sachs)
42% of U.S. Businesses Now Owned by Women.
Source: NWBC
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: Incfile, Ecommerce Tips, The Motley Fool, Fundera, Earthweb, Buy Women Owned, Legal Jobs, Pay, Northone, Looklocal First Vp, Wbenc, Forbes, and more.
What Does the Data Suggest | Justification |
Women-led market surge | With 42% of U.S. businesses being women-owned, there’s a clear indication of women’s entrepreneurial spirit and their increasing economic influence. |
Target female entrepreneurs | Recognizing this percentage underscores the potential of marketing products/services that cater specifically to women business owners. |
Diversify marketing strategy | A balanced approach ensures relevance to nearly half the entrepreneurial landscape that’s women-driven. |
12.3 Million U.S. Businesses Under Female Leadership.
Source: Blackthorn
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: CNBC, Netchoice, Biz Journals, Forbes, Fundera, Northone, Legal Jobs, Earthweb, Linkedin, Writer’s Block Live, Turbify, Motive Workforce, Simon Associates, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Women-led market growth | With 12.3 million businesses under women’s leadership in the U.S., there’s evident potential and influence in markets dominated or led by women. |
Target female entrepreneurs | This large number indicates a lucrative segment for services and products tailored to female business owners’ needs and preferences. |
Diversity in leadership matters | The prevalence of women-owned businesses underscores the importance of recognizing diverse leadership styles and perspectives in marketing strategies. |
Women-Led U.S. Businesses Employ Over 9.4 Million.
Source: NWBC
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: NAWBO, MetLife, Incfile, Ecommerce Tips, Linkedin, Score, Fool, Zippia, Census, Pay, Fast Capital 360, Ledc Metro, Simon Associates, Sweet Street, What To Become, Big Ideas For Small Business, Shutterstock, and more.
What Does the Data Suggest | Justification |
Women’s Impact Expanding | With women-owned businesses employing over 9.4 million workers, there’s a clear expansion of their influence in the market. |
Target Women Entrepreneurs | Given their sizable workforce, marketing strategies can be tailored towards solutions that cater to women business owners. |
Diverse Workforce Essential | A large portion of workers are under women-owned businesses, emphasizing the need for products/services that resonate with a diverse workforce. |
Daily Surge: Women Launch 1,821 New Businesses.
Source: Gusto
Significance of the Data: High
Mentioned By: LinkedIn, Enterprise Apps Today, Fundera, Triple Pundit, Simon Associates, Northone, Earthweb, Zippia, Cfoon Speed Dial, Join Sourcelink, Simply Business, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Women’s entrepreneurial rise | With 1,821 new businesses daily, women are taking charge in the entrepreneurial space, showcasing a shift in business dynamics. |
Untapped market potential | This daily business influx indicates there’s a growing, possibly underserved, market niche or demand women are addressing. |
Female-centric strategies | The increasing female entrepreneurship highlights a need for marketing strategies that cater to women as business owners. |
In 2021: Women Started 49% of Businesses, Men 42%.
Source: UOC
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: LegalZoom, JPMorgan, ResearchGate, Pew Research, Oecd Cogito, Score, Incfile, Pay, Ecommerce Tips, Gusto, Writer’s Block Live, Gemconsortium, World Bank, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Female-led entrepreneurial surge | In 2021, women exceeded men in initiating new business ventures, indicating a transformative trend in business leadership. |
Male entrepreneurship decline | Men’s 42% contribution suggests a possible slowdown or shift in their traditional dominance in the startup landscape. |
Gender-balanced market evolution | The near-equal representation between men and women underscores the emergence of a more gender-balanced entrepreneurial ecosystem. |
Female-Founded Businesses Show 28% Lower Failure Rate.
Source: World Bank
Significance of the Data: High
Mentioned By: UOC, ResearchGate, Score, 99 Designs, University Of Pennsylvania, World Bank, Market Splash, World Economic Forum, Diva Portal, Gusto, Grant Thornton, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Women’s robust business acumen | The data reflects that businesses helmed by women demonstrate a resilience and adaptability, resulting in a lower failure rate. |
Men’s increased vulnerability | The comparative higher failure rate of male-created businesses may imply areas for improvement or diverse risk-taking behaviors. |
Diverse skills in leadership | The variance in success rates underscores the need to explore and integrate diverse management and operational approaches. |
Women Outpace Men: 5% More Likely to Venture Solo.
Source: BusinessDIT
Significance of the Data: Medium
Mentioned By: PR Newswire, Incfile, Wordstream, Into The Minds, Legal Jobs, Score, International Women’s Day, Startus, Small Biz Trends, Instant Offices, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Women’s entrepreneurial edge | The 5% differential underscores women’s increasing inclination and confidence towards entrepreneurial ventures. |
Men’s entrepreneurial hesitance | Men, while still active in entrepreneurship, display a slightly reduced propensity to initiate businesses compared to women. |
Evolving business dynamics | The emerging trend showcases an evolving business landscape, where traditional gender roles in entrepreneurship are shifting. |
Globally, Women Own 33% of Small Businesses.
Source: Goldman Sachs
Significance of the Data: High
Mentioned By: Score, Incfile, Guidant Financial, Earthweb, Northone, Fundera, Linkedin, Microsave, We Connect International, Junecpa, The Way Women Work, Forbes, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Global female business ascent | The one-third ownership figure emphasizes the growing presence and influence of women in the global small business arena. |
Men’s dominance is waning | While still holding a majority, men’s two-thirds ownership indicates areas where female entrepreneurs could further expand. |
Diverse entrepreneurial landscape | The substantial share of women-owned businesses points to a global marketplace that values diverse leadership and perspectives. |
99% of Women-Owned SMBs Urge More Federal Support.
Source: Goldman Sachs
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: OECD, Govexec, Linkedin, American Medspa, Data Catalyst, Financial Post, Godfrey Legal, Intuit, Investopedia, Forbes, Yale, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Overwhelming female dissatisfaction | An almost unanimous consensus among women business owners signals a palpable need for enhanced governmental intervention and support. |
Governmental policy scrutiny | The data indicates a pressing requirement for policy makers to reevaluate existing measures for their efficacy and inclusiveness. |
Urgent call for change | The near-universal sentiment suggests that the current state of governmental aid may be misaligned with the needs of women entrepreneurs. |
89%: Uneven Playing Field for Female vs. Male SMBs.
Source: Goldman Sachs
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: The 19th News, Science Direct, Legal Jobs, Findevgateway, World Bank, Bipartisan Policy, Business News Daily, Development, Research Gate, Aeoworks, and more.
What does the data suggest | Justification |
Persistent gender disparities | A predominant majority of respondents recognize systemic biases and challenges disproportionately affecting female entrepreneurs. |
Male business advantage | The perception of an uneven playing field hints at possible advantages or preferential treatments extended to male-owned businesses. |
Need for equitable reforms | Given this sentiment, there’s an evident demand for policy changes and initiatives promoting fairness in the entrepreneurial space. |