Key Facts About Women-Owned Businesses

The Overall Picture 2008-2009

• 10.1 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing more than 13 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008.
• Three quarters of all women-owned businesses are majority owned by women (51% or more), for a total of 7.2 million firms, employing 7.3 million people, and generating $1.1 trillion in sales.
• Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 40% of all privately held firms.

Businesses Owned by Women of Color 

• 1.9 million firms are majority-owned (51% or more) by women of color in the U.S.
• These firms employ 1.2 million people and generate $165 billion in revenues annually.

Million Dollar Businesses

• One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.
• 3% of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more compared with 6% of men-owned firms.

Statistics from the Center for Women’s Business Research, 2006. Census information from 2002. Visit www.womensbusinessresearch.org for more information on women owned businesses in the United States.