More Businesses Are Women-Owned

About 18.5% of businesses with employees that were started between 1991 and 1994 were owned by women, the Census Bureau said, up from 12% of companies that existed in 1980. The businesses owned by women are smaller than businesses in general, with 78.5% having between one and nine employees. For all businesses, 68.2% fall into that size category, a survey by the bureau shows. Women are eager to expand their businesses, according to the study, which was conducted in 1994. About 30% of the women-owned firms said they planned to increase their work force in the next five years. In addition, 28.6% expected to add new products, 20% intended to increase the hours their employees work, 7.7% planned to increase the number of locations, 6.4% expected to expand government contracting and 4.2% intended to expand into international markets.