According to Forbes, the growth in female-owned businesses in the U.S. has jumped by more than 50% since 1997. The current estimate of 8.3 million such businesses now generate nearly $1.3 trillion in revenue and employ more than 7.7 people. Programs like Astia and the White House Project, communities committed to the promotion of high-growth female-led firms, are seeing applicants in record numbers, and according to the Small Business Administration, the dollar amount of loans granted to female business leaders is on the rise. That's right, ladies-- this is a critical time for women in entrepreneurship.
Here are the stats from Forbes:
- Women's Median Annual Earnings: $30,789
- Total SBA-Approved Loans, 2011-2012: $18,300,800
- Growth in Women-Owned Firms 1997-2012: 44.3%
- Number of Women-Owned Firms, 2012: 179,000
- 2012 Revenues By Women-Owned firms: $29,899,900.
