Madison’s share of woman-owned businesses ranked 5th lowest

A new analysis of U.S. Census data has shown Madison falls behind its peers in its share of woman-owned businesses, according to the Capital Times. It ranked fifth lowest out of the country’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, with just 16.11% of area businesses with employees owned by women, around 2% lower than the overall state percentage. 

The U.S. Census Bureau contacted 300,000 companies for the 2021 Annual Business Survey; businesses with multiple owners were counted as woman-owned if more than half of the ownership was held by women. 

Businesses with no paid employees were not incorporated in those rankings. Small Business Administration figures from 2018 show 80% of U.S. businesses falling into this category; 40% of those businesses are woman-owned, compared to 20% of employer businesses.