2010-10-06-美国商务部-Women-Owned_Business_in_the_21st_Century_41页_2mb

• Report Title: Women-Owned Businesses in the 21st Century
  Prepared by: U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration for the White House Council on Women and Girls
  Published: October 2010

I. Key Findings

1. Business Scale and Growth:

   • Female-owned businesses account for approximately 30% of privately-held U.S. firms (7.8 million in 2007), growing 44% between 1997–2007, outpacing male-owned businesses (22% growth).
   • They employed about 500,000 people during this period, while male-owned firms lost jobs overall.
   • Minority women-owned businesses grew fastest (75% in African-American firms), contributing over half the growth in women-owned businesses.

2. Economic Contribution:

   • In 2007, women-owned firms had $1.2 trillion in sales/receipts, comprising ~11% of total private firm revenue despite 30% market share.
   • They employed ~7.6 million workers, but with lower average wages and employment compared to male-owned enterprises.

3. Industry Concentration:

   • Female-owned businesses dominate healthcare, education, and personal services (e.g., ~61% of healthcare firms).
   • These sectors typically have lower sales and payroll than industries dominated by men (e.g., manufacturing).

II. Disparities and Challenges

1. Financing Constraints:

   • Female-owned firms often start with less capital and rely less on external financing (e.g., bank loans, venture capital).
   • Even after controlling for size and creditworthiness, women face challenges accessing favorable loans.

2. Survival and Expansion:

   • Survival rates for new businesses were lower for women (~70% survived the first five years vs. ~72% for men).
   • Women-owned firms concentrate in lower-growth industries and face barriers to scaling due to limited access to capital.

3. Owner Characteristics:

   • Female entrepreneurs prioritize work-life balance, limiting their time commitment to businesses.
   • They are more risk-averse and less likely to pursue high-growth ventures.

III. Conclusion & Recommendations

1. Future Growth Potential:

   • Despite disparities, women-owned businesses are crucial for job creation and innovation.
   • Policies supporting networks, mentorship, and access to start-up capital are vital for bridging the gap.

2. Policy Recommendations:

   • Expand government-backed loan programs (e.g., SBA loans) for women-owned firms.
   • Address systemic barriers in financing, industry access, and risk tolerance.
   • Promote awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities and childcare/healthcare support for female business owners.

IV. Methodology & Data Sources

• Data Sets: Survey of Business Owners (SBO), Current Population Survey (CPS), Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS).
• Limitations: Challenges in measuring discrimination vs. behavioral preferences.
• Future Research: Focus on intr industry comparisons between women- and men-owned firms.