< Back
Annual Revenues, Profits of Women-Owned Businesses Leaped in 2016, According to Biz2Credit Study
Study of 25,000 Companies Finds Average Annual Earnings Climbed 47 Percent, Average Annual Earnings Jumped 61 Percent in a Year-to-Year Comparison
Average Annual Revenues of women-owned businesses increased 47 percent and Average Annual Earnings jumped 61 percent last year among companies that applied for funding through Biz2Credit.com , a leading online credit marketplace.
Average Annual Revenues of women-owned business rose to $210,000 in 2016, an improvement of 47% from $142,804 in 2015, according to Biz2Credit, which analyzed 25,000 applications from business owners on its platform during 2016. In comparison, businesses owned by men generated about 73 percent more revenue ($363,414) on average than women-owned businesses in 2016. Meanwhile, Average Annual Earnings for women-owned businesses were $117,064, a 61 percent increase, while male-owned firms averaged $195,574 -- a $78,510 differential between the genders.
"Overall, the figures show that 2016 was a strong year for small businesses -- revenues were up significantly. However, there is still a large gap between the sales of male-owned and female-owned companies," explained Rohit Arora, CEO of Biz2Credit, who oversaw the research. "It is encouraging that women entrepreneurs are acquiring credit at nearly the same dollar amount of their male counterparts. This indicates a commitment to growth of their companies."
The Biz2Credit research found that the average funded amount for women-owned businesses ($99,009) was 6% lower than that of men-owned businesses ($105,172) last year.
Additionally, Biz2Credit found that the Average Credit Score for women-owned businesses dropped four points from 599 in 2015 to 595 in 2016. At the same time, credit scores, on average, were 17 points higher for businesses owned by men, 612 in 2016, a drop from 615 in 2015.
"The drop in credit scores might initially seem surprising, but in a way, it's an encouraging figure. Borrowers who cautiously refrained from borrowing money for expansion or capital improvements re-entered the credit markets," said Arora, whose company has arranged $1.6 billion in financing for small business owners in the past decade. "Because the economy was relatively strong and interest rates were so low, women business owners were willing to take on more risk."
According to Biz2Credit, 29 percent of the registrations on Biz2Credit.com came from female entrepreneurs, up from 27 percent in 2016.
"A solid economic recovery along with very low interest rates created an atmosphere in which small business could thrive," Arora explained. "In a strong economy, women entrepreneurs sought funding to grow their operations."
Key findings:
- Average Annual Earnings (revenues minus expenses) for women-owned businesses jumped 61 percent to $117,064 in 2016 from $72,529 in 2015.
- Average Annual Revenues of women-owned business rose to $210,000 in 2016, a 47 percent increase from $142,804 in 2015.
- The Average Credit Score for women-owned companies fell from 599 in 2015 to 595 in 2016, while the score for male-owned companies fell from 615 in 2015 to 612 in 2016.
- Services (except public administration) represented 25 percent of the women-owned companies in the study, by the largest category of businesses.
- The states which had the most applications from women-owned businesses were California (805), Texas (714), New York (497), Georgia (389), and North Carolina (295).
Statistics: Women-owned vs. Male-owned Businesses
- Women-to Men Borrowing Ratio: 29 percent (women) vs. 71 percent (men) of registrations on Biz2Credit.com in 2016.
- Average Annual Earnings (revenues minus expenses) for women-owned businesses in 2016 jumped 61 percent to $117,064 in 2016, but still lower than the annual earnings of male-owned companies $195,574 -- a $78,510 gap between the genders.
- Average Annual Revenue for women-owned businesses ($210,000) was $153,414 lower than the annual revenue of male-owned companies ($363,414) in 2016.
- Average Loan Size for women-owned businesses was $99,009, compared to $105,172 for male-owned companies.
- Average Operating Expenses: The operating costs were 44 percent of revenues for women-owned businesses, compared to 45 percent for male-owned firms.
- Average Credit Score: The average credit score for women-owned businesses (595) was 17 points lower than male-owned companies (612).
- Average Age of Business for women-owned businesses was slightly less than three years (35 months), while male-owned businesses averaged 44 months in business.
Quotes from Biz2Credit CEO Rohit Arora on the improvement of the fortunes of women entrepreneurs:
- A strong overall economy and low interest rates were market conditions that spurred women business owners to apply for credit. The Average Loan Size for women-owned businesses was $99,009, compared to $105,172 for male-owned companies.
- Revenues and earnings climbed significantly for women-owned businesses last year. Like their male counterparts, female entrepreneurs generally thrived in 2016. Favorable economic conditions and experience gained from being in business contributed to their success.
- Women are able to borrow larger sums of money to grow their businesses than ever before. Online lending portals have made it easier for borrowers to reach banks, marketplace lenders, institutional investors, micro lenders and other financial institutions willing to lend to women-owned companies.
- Startup costs of all types of businesses have decreased. Companies don't need big offices in high rent areas. Small firms are hiring part-time employees who can work remotely via laptops or tablets.
- Loan applications from women business owners in Georgia and North Carolina -- particularly around Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham -- are on the rise. As the U.S. increasingly becomes a knowledge-based economy, geography becomes less important. Companies don't have to be in New York or Silicon Valley. Lower cost structures in southern states help grow the economies in those states.
- Any part of the U.S. that has an access to substantial numbers of graduates from good schools is booming because we are in a knowledge economy. The fact that women outnumber men enrolled in college is starting to show in business.