MIND YOUR BIZNESS
4 Ways Female Founders
Turbocharge Their Businesses
Article by VISA Corporation
(BPT) - Women are starting businesses at a record pace - motivated to pursue passions, financial independence and the flexibility that eludes most traditional jobs. In the U.S. alone, women entrepreneurs generate $1.1 million in revenue on average across retail, professional and personal service businesses that have operated for 11 years. This stat comes from Visa's new 'State of Female Entrepreneurship' report, which informed their recently announced program, She's Next, Empowered by Visa, a global initiative to support and champion women in their efforts to grow their small businesses. That's powerful
stuff, highlighting the important role women entrepreneurs play in the prosperity and economic development of local communities. The typical entrepreneur is 42 years old and earns nearly $110,000 in household income a year, making a profound difference in building and supporting families in the community.
Clearly, female founders are coming into their own. In fact, the Visa study found that 79 percent of American women entrepreneurs feel more empowered now than they did five years ago. Still, key challenges exist: 73 percent say funding does not come easily, and nearly 2/3 use their own funds to get started. Assembling a good team, finding the right tools and dealing with competitors are among the biggest challenges keeping women entrepreneurs up at night. For any entrepreneur, it can feel like there's never enough time or resources to grow a business. To help other entrepreneurs and based on insights from the 'State of Female Entrepreneurship' report, Visa polled four areas women entrepreneurs focus on to turbocharge success:
Find mentors: More than two-thirds said they wanted advice from fellow entrepreneurs. Relatable role models are