"According to the Center for Women's Business Research, women-owned firms (50% or more women-owned) account for nearly half of all privately held firms in United States"

Women small business owners, one of the fastest growing segments fueling the U.S. economy, are feeling successful and optimistic about their business and personal financial situations, according to a recent Wells Fargo/Gallup study. Ninety-five percent of women small business owners surveyed feel successful, while an additional 85% say that if they had another opportunity to decide, they would do it again and become a small business owner.

Women business owners also say they are optimistic about their personal finances. Seventy-two percent of women surveyed say their personal finances are either "good or excellent," and 62% say they are "getting better." Seventy-five percent predict they will be financially better off next year, and another 75% say they are better off financially as a small business owner than they would have been working for another company in the same field.

"As women-owned businesses are a vital component of the U.S. economy, it is very exciting to see how confident they are about the success of their businesses," said Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Executive Vice President and Small Business Segment Manager for Wells Fargo. "Their optimism for continued growth is a very positive sign for the advancement of small businesses and the economy."

According to a recent study from the Center for Women's Business Research, there are an estimated 10.5 million women-owned firms (50% or more women-owned) in the United States, accounting for nearly half of all privately held firms in the country. Strong signs of optimism combined with satisfaction in becoming a small business owner bode well for continued growth in this market segment.

"Women business owners have experienced the ups and downs of the economy firsthand, and yet we continue building and growing our businesses," says Hannah Kain, owner and president of ALOM Technologies. "I think many women business owners feel successful because we have balanced smart risk-taking with running a business during very challenging economic times."

Survey respondents still show signs of caution about hiring. Forty percent of business owners surveyed are seeing an increase in revenues this year and 60% expect revenues to increase over the next 12 months, yet only 23% expect to increase the number of jobs at their company next year.

These findings are based on a Gallup survey of more than 1,200 women business owners. Women business owners from across the country were surveyed from August of 2003 through June of 2004.