Center Publication
Fact of the Week, December 28, 1998
Copyright Notice
Women Business Owners.
July - December 1998
Women-owned businesses that produce goods (such as manufacturing and construction) and those in transportation or communications are among those most likely to sell products or services to government agencies and large corporations. Among women-owned firms in the goods sector, 47% have some large corporate sales, 30% have at least some sales to state or local governments, and 21% sell to the Federal government. Fully 57% of the women-owned firms in the transportation/communications sector have some sales to large corporations, 33% sell to state or local government agencies, and 24% sell to the Federal government.
From NFWBO Omnibus Survey Government Procurement/Corporate Purchasing Analysis, NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, December 21, 1998
Women play an important role in the creation of new businesses in Mexico. One-third (32%) of businesses owned by women are less than 5 years old, in contrast with 20% of the businesses owned by men. Women also own establishments that have been in business a number of years: fully 25% of the businesses owned by women in Mexico are between 5 and 10 years old; 29% are businesses that are between 10 and 20 years old; and 12% of women-owned firms are over 20 years old.
From Women Business Owners in Mexico: An Emerging Economic Force, by Gina Zabludovsky, Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM); in consultation with NFWBO; underwritten by IBM
Fact of the Week, December 14, 1998
Not only has the percentage of women business owners with bank credit increased from 1996 to 1998, so has the amount of credit they have available. In 1998, 34% of women business owners who have bank credit have $50,000 or more available for use in their businesses, compared to 20% in 1996. However, they still lag their male counterparts; in 1998, 58% of men business owners have $50,000 or more in available bank credit.
From Capital, Credit and Financing: An Update Comparing Women and Men Business Owners’ Sources and Uses of Capital," NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, Fact of the Week, December 7, 1998
In a recent analysis of trends in access to capital, NFWBO has found that the share of women- owned firms that sought financing increased from 27% in 1996 to 33% in 1998 and the share with bank credit increased from 46% to 52%.
Fact of the Week, November 30, 1998
Women business owners, regardless of their firm’s size, entered into business ownership for similar reasons. Whether their firm had sales of $1 million or more or under $1 million, the most important factors in their decisions to start their own business included: wanting to do for themselves what they had been doing for others; the desire for more flexibility; having a winning idea and seeing a market niche; and fulfilling a long-time dream.
From An Analysis of Select Issues from “Paths to Entrepreneurship: New Directions for Women in Business,” NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, November 23, 1998
Black, Native American/Alaska Native, and Hispanic women business owners were more likely than Caucasian or Asian women to say they were fulfilling a long-time dream by becoming business owners. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Black women business owners, 55% of Native American/Alaska Native women business owners, and 52% of Hispanic women business owners reported that they were fulfilling a long-time dream by becoming business owners, compared to 43% of Asian women business owners and 39% of Caucasian women business owners.
From Women Business Owners of Color: Challenges and Accomplishments, NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, November 16, 1998
Most women business owners surveyed from around the world are strong users of information technology: 95% of women entrepreneurs in Argentina use computers in their businesses; 93% in the U.S.; 81% in Ireland, and 60% in Finland.
From various surveys conducted by or in consultation with NFWBO
Fact of the Week, November 9, 1998
The past work experiences of women business owners differ by firm size. The owners of enterprises with $1 million or more in sales are more likely to have had private sector, for-profit work experience that the leaders of smaller enterprises, and they are more likely to own a business that is directly related to their previous experience.
Fact of the Week, November 2, 1998
Women entrepreneurs in the formal sector of the economy make up approximately 14% of the total number of entrepreneurs in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Companies owned by women represent 36% of educational services businesses, 22% of firms that provide personal services, 19% of wholesale trade firms and 17% of retail trade businesses. Women entrepreneurs are also making inroads in durable and non-durable manufacturing.
Fact of the Week, October 26, 1998
Women business owners avail themselves of mentor-protégé programs to a much greater extent than do men business owners. Such programs, where large companies act as mentors to smaller firms to build knowledge and capacity, have attracted 12% of women-owned firms that are currently in the government procurement and large company purchasing markets, but only 6% of the men-owned businesses.
Fact of the Week, October 19, 1998
Forty-two percent (42%) of women-owned firms sell products or services to government agency or large corporate markets, compared to 61% of men-owned firms. The market penetration gap is widest in the area of corporate purchasing; fully 49% of men-owned firms sell products or services to large corporations, compared to 30% of women-owned firms a 19% gap. The market gap is 13% in state and local government procurement markets, and only 3% in Federal government procurement.
Fact of the Week, October 12, 1998
Among women of color who reported that they felt that a glass ceiling was preventing them from advancing any further in their careers, the most prominent elements of that glass ceiling were that their contributions were not being recognized or valued; they were not taken seriously by their employer; and they saw others promoted ahead of them.
Fact of the Week, October 5, 1998
Compared to women business owners from the United States, Latin- and Iber-American women business owners are less likely to use business earnings, and more likely to use either a commercial or personal bank loan, for business financing needs. Their use of credit cards is at a similar level.
From Key Issues Affecting Women Business Owners in Argentina and Other Latin- and Iber-American Countries, NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, September 28, 1998
Many of the business issues faced by women entrepreneurs are similar regardless of ethnicity maintaining business profitability, managing cash flow, maintaining growth, and finding and keeping qualified employees. However, nearly three-quarters (73%) of Black women business owners say that access to capital for current business needs is a very or extremely important issue to them, compared to 60% or fewer of other women business owners.
Fact of the Week, September 21, 1998
Although the motivations for starting their businesses were similar among all women entrepreneurs, those with larger firms were sparked by an event or series of events, while women with smaller firms report that their entry into entrepreneurship was a more gradual process. Half (50%) of women with $1 million or more in sales started their businesses as a result of an event, while 59% of the owners of smaller firms say it was a gradual process.
Fact of the Week, September 14, 1998
Many women business owners have relied upon mentors when getting their business started. Black and Native American/Alaska Native women business owners were most likely to have drawn upon a mentor 52% of Black and Native American women business owners said they relied on a mentor who was most likely to have been a family member or a former business colleague.
Fact of the Week, September 7, 1998
When Latin- and Iber-American women business owners were asked about their business plans going into the 21st Century, two-thirds point to business expansion. Thirty-nine percent (39%) plan to increase sales and employment over the next two years, 16% plan to open new stores or offices, and 12% plan to growth their part-time ventures into full-time businesses. Only 20% plan to maintain their businesses at their current levels.
Fact of the Week, August 31, 1998
Regardless of the current size of their business, women entrepreneurs report that offering more flexibility and understanding and a more open management style are among the key differences in their company’s culture compared to their former workplaces. However, women who own more substantial firms those with $1 million or more in sales are more likely to report that their conscious policy and practice differences include listening to employees and respecting their opinions, providing more or better benefits, managing in an open or team-based manner, and providing more training and educational opportunities to their employees.
From An Analysis of Select Issues prepared for C-200 from “Paths to Entrepreneurship: New Directions for Women in Business,” NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, August 24, 1998
A survey of women business owners in Ireland provides insights into how they are using bank credit in their businesses: 52% use bank credit for day-to-day working capital purposes; 37% use credit to expand their businesses; and 34% use credit for seasonal or occasional working capital.
From a survey conducted by IBM among members of Network Ireland, in consultation with NFWBO. NFWBO and IBM 1998
Fact of the Week, August 17, 1998
There is a significant difference by ethnic group in whether the businesses women start are related to their former careers or are something completely different. A 53% and 52% majority, respectively, of Black and Asian women business owners own businesses that are closely related to their past work experience. On the other hand, 47% of Hispanic women, 46% of Native American/Alaska Native women, and 42% of Caucasian women reported that their businesses are totally unrelated to their former career.
Fact of the Week, August 10, 1998
Seventy-six percent (76%) of women entrepreneurs offered at least one policy or practice that was consciously different from one that was in place at a former place of employment. The most frequently mentioned differences are: Offer flexible scheduling/More understanding about time off (mentioned by 15%); Treat employees fairly (14%); Listen to employees/Respect their opinions/Elicit suggestions (13%); Value and respect employees/Acknowledge that they are important (13%).
Fact of the Week, August 3, 1998
Over three-quarters (77%) of the business professional members of Network Ireland, a women’s association consisting of entrepreneurs and business professionals, currently have bank credit available to their business. The share of women business owners in Ireland with bank credit is significantly higher than in the United States, where 46% of women-owned firms have bank credit.
From a survey conducted by IBM among members of Network Ireland, in consultation with NFWBO, and with additional support from Bank of Ireland. NFWBO and IBM 1998
Fact of the Week, July 27, 1998
Among business owners who said “glass ceiling” issues were a factor in their leaving their previous position, women were more likely than men to report having experienced several specific aspects of the glass ceiling: 44% of women business owners reported that the statement “your contributions were not being recognized or valued” fit their personal experience either very well or extremely well, compared to only 17% of men business owners. “You were not taken seriously by your employer or supervisor” was another statement offered to respondents. Thirty-three percent (33%) of women reported that this statement fit their experience either very well or extremely well compared to 18% of men.
From Paths to Entrepreneurship: New Directions for Women in Business, NFWBO 1998
Fact of the Week, July 20, 1998
The use of computers has become commonplace in Ireland, as in other developed economies. Nearly all (99%) of the business professional members of Network Ireland, a women’s association consisting of entrepreneurs and business professionals, use computers in their workplaces, as do 81% of business owners. These women are also online. Over half (56%) of business professionals are on the Internet, as are over one-third (36%) of business owners.
Fact of the Week, July 13, 1998
Most women business owners come to entrepreneurship with experience in a private-sector, for-profit business. Six in 10 Asian and Caucasian women business owners, half of Black and Hispanic women, and 40% of Native American/Alaska Native women spent the majority of their careers in a private sector prior to owning their own firm. Black women were more likely than other women to have spent their careers in the public sector either in a government agency or an educational institution.
Fact of the Week, July 6, 1998
Women business leaders from 14 countries around the world are optimistic about their business prospects and their countries’ economies: 84% of the women entrepreneurial leaders surveyed expressed optimism about the outlook for their businesses over the next two years; 65% are optimistic about their country’s economic outlook.
From surveys conducted at two international conferences of entrepreneurial leaders of women’s business associations, NFWBO 1998
Citation
Center for Women’s Business Research. “Fact of the Week, December 28, 1998.” Washington, DC.