U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for Oct. 22: Women Entrepreneurs

Profile America for Saturday, Oct. 22. There are 23 million businesses across the U.S. ranging from giant corporations with thousands of employees down to one-person enterprises. The chances are increasing that the business you deal with is owned by a woman. That's why this is Women's Small Business Month.

Events across the country include seminars for would-be entrepreneurs and award presentations for the most innovative and successful business owners. Six and a half million U.S. firms are owned by women, a 20 percent rise in just five years. In that period, the revenue generated by these firms rose 16 percent, to $951 billion. Over half of women-owned businesses are in service-related industries, including health care.

Find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at http://www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2005, p. 515; U.S. Census Bureau Press Release, CB05-108, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/005412.html