Women in business fact

According to the Center for Women’s Business Research (formerly the National Foundation for Women Business Owners), the rate of growth in the largest women-owned firms — those with the highest revenues and the most employees — exceeds the industry average in every major industry group.

The growth in the number of women-owned firms with revenues of $1 million or more between 1997 and 2000 is highest in finance/insurance/real estate (61.8 percent), services (43.4 percent), agriculture/forestry/fishing (36 percent) and construction (32.3 percent). However, the center also reports that just over one in 18 adult women in the U.S. is a business owner.

Across the nation, 5.7 percent of all adult women are entrepreneurs.