New Knowledge Reveals The Fact About Immediately’s Feminine Entrepreneurs

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors November 19, 2025

Ladies enterprise homeowners are not content material to only “keep of their lane.”

Ladies enterprise homeowners are not content material to only “keep of their lane.” As an alternative, they're branching out into fields beforehand dominated by males, akin to development, transportation, and warehouse, and tech/software program and AI, in accordance with a current SoFi survey, which turns many assumptions about feminine entrepreneurs on their heads.

Within the Summer time 2025 SoFi survey of over 1,000 ladies enterprise homeowners and feminine entrepreneurs throughout the U.S., the vast majority of respondents reported that that they had no monetary assist or assist community once they launched their companies. As an alternative, they used their very own financial savings to get their enterprise off the bottom and relied on their expertise and know-how.

And overlook traders — many feminine entrepreneurs and founders are getting the job carried out with their very own cash, arduous work, ingenuity, and willpower.

Key Factors These knowledge highlights are primarily based on SoFi’s survey of 1,000 ladies enterprise homeowners within the U.S. ages 18 and up, carried out on June 12-18, 2025. Percentages have been rounded to the closest entire quantity, and a few questions allowed for a number of solutions, so some knowledge might not add as much as 100%.

68% funded their companies with their very own private financial savings. Solely 18% had a enterprise or Small Enterprise Administration (SBA) mortgage; simply 3% had enterprise capital. 62% of ladies enterprise homeowners taught themselves how you can handle their enterprise funds; 42% are very assured of their monetary administration expertise. 44% say their trade’s gender make-up has motivated them to show themselves and stand out. 63% of respondents say private achievement comes from flexibility and management, with 42% saying satisfaction derives from increasing shopper bases and 36% from income development.

Why Enterprise Development Equals Private Development There are over 14 million female-owned companies within the U.S., they usually generate $3.3 trillion in income.

Most girls enterprise homeowners say they're very assured of their monetary administration expertise — and people talents are clearly paying off. Nevertheless, they do fear in regards to the broader monetary scenario within the U.S. The vast majority of SoFi survey respondents cite “present financial uncertainty” as the largest problem they face proper now when it comes to managing their enterprise funds.

The underside line is that regardless of the unpredictability of at this time’s financial system, ladies have found that proudly owning a enterprise could be deeply rewarding—and that there could be surprising alternatives in fields that will have as soon as appeared off-limits. In truth, 30% say that coming into a brand new trade has been the largest skilled reward they’ve gained.

Bridging the Gender Hole As famous above, ladies are discovering alternatives in enterprise areas that have been as soon as for males solely. Sixteen % of SoFi respondents say their enterprise is in an trade that’s male-dominated, and 39% report that the trade they’re in is evenly divided between women and men. By comparability 38% say they’re in an trade that’s female-dominated, and seven% don’t know the make-up of their trade.

For a lot of ladies entrepreneurs, venturing into new territory has had a constructive impact:

44% say the gender make-up of their trade has motivated them to show themselves and stand out. 29% report that it permits them to differentiate themselves from the competitors. 20% say they’ve been capable of construct stronger networks due to it. 26% of respondents say gender hasn’t had any affect in any respect.

Simpler Than Anticipated Whereas breaking right into a male-dominated subject would possibly sound intimidating, it was truly pretty easy, SoFi’s survey discovered: 61% of ladies enterprise homeowners say it was under no circumstances tough — or simply barely tough — to enter their trade.

SoFi That is what respondents stated when requested how tough it was to enter their industries.

By no means tough: 37% Barely tough: 24% Reasonably tough: 28% Very tough: 8% Extraordinarily tough: 3%

The Challenges Ladies Entrepreneurs Confronted When Coming into Their Business The primary obstacles ladies enterprise homeowners face have much less to do with discrimination and extra to do with constructing a assist system, in accordance with SoFi’s survey. Networking and discovering a mentor have been the highest challenges for 68% of respondents. Surprisingly, this was greater than twice as difficult as securing funding.

<img decoding="async" src="https://images.stacker.com/w/1280/images/stories/2025/11/18/sofi-breaking-barriers-2.png" alt="A horizontal bar chart showing results for the biggest obstacles for women entrepreneurs. Answers include: Difficulty building a network 40%. Lack of access to funding 29%. Limited mentorship or guidance 28%. Lack of industry knowledge or experience 25%. Gender bias or discrimination 18%."/> SoFi Right here is the breakdown of a few of the greatest obstacles for girls entrepreneurs.

Issue constructing a community: 40% Lack of entry to funding: 29% Restricted mentorship or steerage: 28% Lack of trade information or expertise: 25% Gender bias or discrimination: 18%

How Ladies Overcame the Largest Challenges to Launching Their Enterprise Just a few roadblocks didn’t decelerate these feminine entrepreneurs, nonetheless. In truth, many ladies enterprise homeowners discovered the hurdles motivating.

SoFi That is what respondents needed to say when requested how they overcame obstacles.

I labored tougher to show myself: 51% I constructed my very own community or assist group: 39% I tailored my enterprise mannequin to beat obstacles: 29% I pursued extra coaching or schooling: 27% I sought recommendation or mentorship from different ladies entrepreneurs: 22% I haven’t overcome them but: 10%

The place the Cash Comes From Most girls enterprise homeowners within the SoFi survey dug into their very own financial savings to launch. Solely 18% secured a enterprise mortgage or Small Enterprise Administration (SBA) mortgage. Maybe it’s a great factor then that a lot of them required lower than $10,000 to arrange store.

How Ladies Funded the Launch of Their Enterprise SoFi That is how respondents say they funded their enterprise.

Private financial savings: 68% Associates or household: 25% Bank cards: 24% Enterprise mortgage (financial institution or non-public): 13% SBA mortgage or help: 5% Authorities grants: 4% Enterprise capital or angel traders: 3% Crowdfunding platforms: 3% Different: 7%

The Preliminary Funding Their Enterprise Required SoFi Right here is the breakdown of startup prices for the respondents.

Lower than $10,000: 44% $10,000-$24,999: 12% $25,000-$49,999: 9% $50,000-$99,999: 9% $100,000 or extra: 6% My enterprise didn’t require any preliminary funding: 19%

Despite the fact that they primarily had to make use of their very own financial savings or bank cards to launch, 47% of ladies enterprise homeowners say they haven’t had any funding obstacles.

Financially Fluent The overwhelming majority of ladies enterprise homeowners report that they've good cash administration expertise — they usually’re proud to make use of them. Solely 3% outsource this job to knowledgeable.

SoFi That is what respondents stated when requested about their stage of confidence in managing enterprise funds.

Very assured: 42% Considerably assured: 49% Not very assured: 7% Not assured in any respect: 2%

Most girls enterprise homeowners realized monetary administration expertise on their very own: 62% say they're self-taught by means of expertise. Others had a little bit assist, together with 15% who realized from an advisor or mentor, and 12% who took courses or workshops. Eight % of ladies entrepreneurs say they're nonetheless studying.

What Retains Them Up At Night time Similar to any enterprise proprietor, feminine founders have considerations about particular monetary points. A considerable variety of them are apprehensive in regards to the state of the U.S. financial system.

Right here’s what they stated when requested: What are the largest challenges associated to managing your corporation funds?

Present financial uncertainty: 38% Setting costs or charges: 32% Understanding taxes or compliance: 27% Budgeting and expense monitoring: 21% Forecasting income: 20% Managing money movement: 20% I haven’t had main monetary challenges: 19% Entry to capital or credit score: 15%

Reaping the Rewards Within the SoFi survey, ladies enterprise homeowners revealed that cash was much less of a motivation to begin their firm than private achievement. Thirty % say they have been impressed by the will for flexibility and autonomy, and 27% launched to pursue a powerful imaginative and prescient or ardour. Simply 23% say they began a enterprise to generate revenue after a job loss or life change.

However for many respondents, the rewards have been effectively value it.

Best Private Rewards of Proudly owning a Enterprise SoFi That is what respondents stated when requested in regards to the private rewards of entrepreneurship.

Flexibility and management over my time: 63% Private development or self-confidence: 48% Doing significant or impactful work: 38% Monetary independence or development: 36% With the ability to present for my household: 34% Gaining respect or recognition: 28% Rising financial savings for my household: 27% Creating alternatives for others: 21%

Best Skilled Rewards of Proudly owning a Enterprise SoFi That is what respondents stated when requested in regards to the skilled rewards of entrepreneurship.

Increasing my shopper base or market: 42% Attaining income development: 36% Efficiently coming into a brand new trade: 30% Launching new providers or merchandise: 21% Hiring a powerful group: 18% Receiving trade recognition or awards: 16%

Finest Recommendation for Different Aspiring Ladies Enterprise House owners When requested what they might inform different ladies who're beginning a enterprise, the feminine entrepreneurs SoFi surveyed had loads to say. Listed below are a few of their greatest suggestions and phrases of knowledge:

“Attempt going out on a limb to attain your goals. You by no means know what you're able to.”

“Don’t deal with your corporation like a passion. Maintain making an attempt and put all of your efforts into it.”

“Be sturdy, elegant, and in management. There’s nothing you possibly can’t do when you put your thoughts to it.”

“Discover assist from different ladies.”

“Know the sector effectively. I had twenty years of expertise earlier than I began my very own enterprise.”

“Study as a lot as you possibly can from somebody who's in the identical subject or an analogous one. Shadow them when you can.”

“It’s not all the time a direct path. Be open to modifications.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for assist.”

“Save up your personal cash, begin small and develop, and don’t surrender in case you have a great idea.”

“Do your homework, be sure you have good enterprise and monetary expertise, consider danger, and don’t rely upon one main buyer.”

“Be tenacious, do your analysis, and have a two-year plan, a five-year plan, and a 10-year plan.”

“Continue to learn and asking questions as you go.”

“Do your analysis, keep the course, and make connections in every single place you go. You by no means know the place you'll discover a possibility.”

The Takeaway Ladies enterprise homeowners are coming into historically male-dominated industries in rising numbers. On the entire, they're discovering the problem motivating, in accordance with SoFi’s 2025 survey of feminine entrepreneurs. Feminine founders have realized how you can stand out from the competitors, constructed stronger networks, and pivoted to adapt their enterprise mannequin to higher compete.

These ladies enterprise homeowners are assured of their monetary administration expertise, the survey discovered. That could be as a result of they’ve been doing it because the begin — for a lot of of them, funding their enterprise was a DIY operation. They primarily relied on private financial savings and bank cards to get the cash they wanted to launch.

Funding strategies different aspiring ladies enterprise homeowners might wish to pursue embrace grants and loans. It may be useful to discover all monetary choices when placing a marketing strategy into motion.