Women and business
Some women become so frustrated with their company's lack of family-friendly policies that they leave their jobs to start their own businesses. Other women are natural entrepreneurs. Still others have ideas that take root in their brains and won't let go.
Many women own businesses, and women-owned businesses tend to do very well. According to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, there were over 8.1 million women-owned businesses in the United States in 2011. Though the number of new businesses increased 34% from 1997-2011, the rate of women-owned businesses increased 50%--a rate 1 1/2 times higher than the national average. Women-owned businesses actually tend to do better, in terms of employment and revenue, than their male-owned counterparts.
So whether you're sitting on an idea that's been buzzing in your brain for years or just fed up with corporate culture, if you're thinking that owning a business might be the next step for you, being a woman is more of an advantage than you might think! But you'll have to do your homework, especially if you're new to the entrepreneurial life.
If you're a business owner, you don't have to crawl your way up the career ladder. You can make as much or as little money as you want, and spend as little or as much time as you want on work. If you want to take the afternoon off to watch your daughter's soccer game, you can set up your email to automatically tell people you're out of the office, and away you go. No more office politics! No more sitting around wasting time on Facebook while you wish you were home! Your kids can even help you stuff envelopes or make phone calls. With email and online purchasing, you can even work in your bathrobe and no one will know the difference. Right?
Of course, the same things that make business appealing can also make it frightening. You don't have to rely on someone else to get ahead, but you do have to rely on yourself. You can be around your kids more, but they might interrupt you while you're working. No one will tell you what projects to take on, but you'll need to hunt them down yourself (if you want to read more about the pros and cons of employment vs. business ownership, check out this guest post on our blog).
Businesses come in many types, including retail stores, home-based businesses, web-based businesses, franchises, multi-level marketing businesses, and even existing businesses that need new owners. There are also quite a few legal structures. Both the type and form of your business might determine how you market it. If your business is web-based and serves a niche market, for example, you might do less direct mailing than someone buying a franchise.
You can read more about women and business by clicking on these links:
Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed because you don't even know where to begin. The SBA has a list of ten steps to start a business which can give you a basic plan. If you want more information, there are plenty of books that can walk even the greenest newbie through the whole process. Plus there are plenty of programs available from government and educational institutions, some of them specific to women (like this site from SBA). Even if you're not new to the business world, you'll probably still need help.
The good news is, there are plenty of resources to help you. Here's a (very short) list:
Many women own businesses, and women-owned businesses tend to do very well. According to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, there were over 8.1 million women-owned businesses in the United States in 2011. Though the number of new businesses increased 34% from 1997-2011, the rate of women-owned businesses increased 50%--a rate 1 1/2 times higher than the national average. Women-owned businesses actually tend to do better, in terms of employment and revenue, than their male-owned counterparts.
So whether you're sitting on an idea that's been buzzing in your brain for years or just fed up with corporate culture, if you're thinking that owning a business might be the next step for you, being a woman is more of an advantage than you might think! But you'll have to do your homework, especially if you're new to the entrepreneurial life.
If you're a business owner, you don't have to crawl your way up the career ladder. You can make as much or as little money as you want, and spend as little or as much time as you want on work. If you want to take the afternoon off to watch your daughter's soccer game, you can set up your email to automatically tell people you're out of the office, and away you go. No more office politics! No more sitting around wasting time on Facebook while you wish you were home! Your kids can even help you stuff envelopes or make phone calls. With email and online purchasing, you can even work in your bathrobe and no one will know the difference. Right?
Of course, the same things that make business appealing can also make it frightening. You don't have to rely on someone else to get ahead, but you do have to rely on yourself. You can be around your kids more, but they might interrupt you while you're working. No one will tell you what projects to take on, but you'll need to hunt them down yourself (if you want to read more about the pros and cons of employment vs. business ownership, check out this guest post on our blog).
Businesses come in many types, including retail stores, home-based businesses, web-based businesses, franchises, multi-level marketing businesses, and even existing businesses that need new owners. There are also quite a few legal structures. Both the type and form of your business might determine how you market it. If your business is web-based and serves a niche market, for example, you might do less direct mailing than someone buying a franchise.
You can read more about women and business by clicking on these links:
Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed because you don't even know where to begin. The SBA has a list of ten steps to start a business which can give you a basic plan. If you want more information, there are plenty of books that can walk even the greenest newbie through the whole process. Plus there are plenty of programs available from government and educational institutions, some of them specific to women (like this site from SBA). Even if you're not new to the business world, you'll probably still need help.
The good news is, there are plenty of resources to help you. Here's a (very short) list:
- Smalll Business Association--they have local chapters and resources specifically for women
- your local Chamber of Commerce--some of these also have women-specific resources, such as the Women's Business Center at the Salt Lake Chamber (look for the Chamber of Commerce on your city or county site)
- speaking of the SBA and the Women's Business Center, many cities have their own Women's Business Centers--here's a directory and here's an idea of some services they offer (usually free or very low-charge)
- classes and workshops at local college and universities
- women's business networking groups (check Google if you aren't sure where to find those where you live)
- alumni groups and business associations
- online classes--some are offered privately and others through educational institutions or corporations--some are even free!
