
41
Chapter 3
Women and Entrepreneurship
3.1 Introduction
As of 2013, it is estimated that there are over 8.6 million female-owned
businesses in the U.S., generating over $1.3 trillion in revenues and employ-
ing nearly 7.8 million people. Between 1997 and 2013, while the number of
businesses in the U.S. increased by 41%, the number of women-owned rms
increased by 59%—a rate 1.5 times the national average.
1
Studies show that entrepreneurial activity by women varies widely across
the world. However, women show nearly double the rate of early-stage
entrepreneurship in middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
These women are highly motiv ...