Gender of Owners

The experiences and credit outcomes of small businesses may be linked, at least in part, to the gender of the business owners. Compared to their male-owned counterparts, women-owned firms are less likely to be fully approved for the funding that they need to sustain and grow their small businesses.

Along with gender of ownership, the Small Business Credit Survey collects other demographic characteristics of businesses’ owners, including their race and ethnicity as well as their age. Analyzing owner demographics in conjunction with firm demographics like industry provides a richer understanding of small business conditions.