Women are taking the helm at Virginia firms more now than ever before.

The number of women-owned firms in Virginia has grown 57 percent during the
past 14 years, according to the State of Women-Owned Business Report released by
American Express last month.

The Commonwealth has approximately 206,900 women-owned companies with 205,900 employees, according to the report. The report analyzes data from 2010 released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nationally, the number of women-owned businesses has increased 50 percent
since 1997. Virginia ranks 12th in the nation as seeing one of the greatest
increases in the number of women-owned firms in the nation. Additionally, the
revenue growth of women-owned businesses in Virginia increased 91 percent.

Below lists the trends in women-owned businesses in the Commonwealth for
every five years between 1997-2011. The 2011 are estimations.

Number of firms

1997-132,219
2002-157,030
2007-192,081
2011- 206,900

Percentage increase: 57 percent
Employment

1997-172,227
2002-183,468
2007-199,248
2011-205,900

Percentage increase: 20 percent
Sales

1997- $17,486,395
2002- $22,123,426
2007- $30,272,850
2011-
$33,443,900
Percentage increase: 91 percent