Introduction

Women entrepreneurs have an uphill battle to climb when it comes to funding their businesses. That’s why organizations like the Women’s Business Development Center exist: to help women succeed, despite the barriers they face.

Women-owned businesses account for more than 9 million firms in the U.S., employing more than 7.8 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales

Women-owned businesses account for more than 9 million firms in the U.S., employing more than 7.8 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales.

Women-owned small businesses are growing at a faster rate than other types of businesses, according to the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC). The number of women-owned small firms grew by an average annual rate of 5 percent between 1997 and 2002, compared with 4 percent growth among all U.S.-based small businesses during that period–and they created jobs at even higher rates: 6 percent annually vs. 5 percent for all firms.*

In fact, women owned 36% of all private businesses in the U.S. in 2016–up from 29% in 1997.

Women-owned businesses are growing at a faster rate than male-owned businesses. According to the SBA, women-owned businesses have been growing at an average annual rate of 5% since 1997. In comparison, male-owned businesses grew by 3% annually during that same period of time.

Women tend to start smaller companies than men do–and they’re also more likely to be self-employed. The average revenue generated by a female entrepreneur is $75K compared with $500K for males (as reported by The New York Times).

Women entrepreneurs face an uphill battle when it comes to funding their businesses, with access to capital being one of the biggest challenges facing women entrepreneurs today.

Women entrepreneurs face an uphill battle when it comes to funding their businesses, with access to capital being one of the biggest challenges facing women entrepreneurs today. Women-owned businesses account for more than 9 million firms in the U.S., but they receive only 2% of all venture capital funding and 4% of all angel investments, according to a recent study by Grant Thornton LLP (GT).

Despite these numbers, GT found that women have been successful as founders: Twenty percent of all startups from 2010 through 2014 were founded by female entrepreneurs; this number has grown significantly since 2005 when only 11 percent were led by women.*

When women do get funding, they tend to get less money than men for their startups and smaller investments later on as well.

Women are less likely to get funding than men. In fact, a recent study showed that when women do get funding for their startups, they tend to get less money than men for their startups and smaller investments later on as well.

This is a problem because it makes it harder for women to grow their businesses and compete with men in the industry.

The good news is that there are several organizations dedicated to addressing these issues head-on and helping women entrepreneurs succeed despite them.

There are many organizations dedicated to addressing these issues head-on and helping women entrepreneurs succeed despite them. Some of the best include:

• Women Who Code, which provides networking opportunities, mentorship and support for women in technology
• FundersClub, which provides capital for early-stage startups founded by underrepresented people in tech (including women)

Many states also have programs that provide small grants or loans to help female entrepreneurs get started or grow their businesses.

If you’re a woman or a minority, and you want to start your own business in the United States, here are some steps to take:

• Contact your local Small Business Administration office or state economic development agency. These organizations may have programs that provide small grants or loans to help female entrepreneurs get started or grow their businesses. They also offer information about other federal resources available for women in business.
• Check out the resources at the bottom of this post for more information on starting a business as a minority woman entrepreneur!

You can find out if your state offers any such programs by contacting your local Small Business Administration office or state economic development agency.

If you are a woman or minority, you may be eligible for funding. You can find out if your state offers any such programs by contacting your local Small Business Administration office or state economic development agency. If not, ask them to create one!

Conclusion

If you’re looking to start your own business, don’t let the challenges facing women entrepreneurs get in your way. If anything, they should motivate you even more! With ingenuity and determination, anyone can overcome the odds against them–and make their dreams come true.