Quick Stats

• 10.6 million firms are at least 50% owned by awoman or women
• Forty-eight percent (48%), nearly half, of allprivately held firms are at least 50% owned by a woman orwomen.
• Between 1997 and 2004, the estimated growth ratein the number of women-owned firms was nearly twice that of allfirms (17% vs. 9%), employment expanded at twice the rate of allfirms (24% vs. 12%), and estimated revenues kept pace with allfirms (39% vs. 34%).
• Women-owned firms employ 19.1 million people andgenerate $2.5 trillion in sales.
• Between 1997 and 2004, privately-held 50% or morewomen-owned firms diversified into all industries with the fastestgrowth in construction (30% growth ), transportation,communications and public utilities (28% growth ), and agriculturalserves (24% growth).
• The number of women-owned firms with employees hasexpanded by an estimated 28% between 1997 and 2004, three times thegrowth rate of all firms with employees.
• As of 2004, almost two-thirds (63%) of allwomen-owned businesses are privately-held majority (51%) or morewomen-owned for a total of 6.7 million firms, employing 9.8 millionpeople and generating $1.2 trillion in sales.
• Annual expenditures by women-owned enterprises forjust four areas--information technology ($38 billion),telecommunications ($25 billion), human resources services ($23billion), and shipping ($17 billion)--are estimated to be $103billion.
• Between 1997 and 2004, privately-held 50% or morewomen-owned firms diversified into all industries with the fastestgrowth in construction (30% growth), transportation, communicationsand public utilities (28% growth), and agricultural serves (24%growth).
• The top three fastest growing states, based on anaverage rank of 1997 to 2004 growth rates, in the number ofprivately held, 50% or more women-owned firms, employment and salesare: 1) Utah; 2) Arizona; and 3) Nevada.

Source: Center for Women's Business Research