National Women’s Small Business Month Opens October With Focus on Women Entrepreneurs

October opened with the annual observance of National Women's Small Business Month, putting renewed attention on the economic role of women entrepreneurs and the programs designed to support women-owned businesses across the United States. The observance has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as an opportunity to highlight women business owners and the resources available to them.

Women-owned businesses represent a significant portion of the U.S. small-business economy. The SBA's 2026 small-business research reports that women owned approximately 14 million businesses in 2022, representing 40.4% of all classifiable businesses. Women also owned a larger share of nonemployer businesses, demonstrating the substantial role of women in both independent entrepreneurship and larger business operations.

The month-long observance has roots in federal efforts to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The SBA has maintained programs focused specifically on women business owners, including Women’s Business Centers that provide counseling, training, mentoring and other forms of business assistance.

The broader history of the program dates to the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988, which helped establish a federal framework for supporting women entrepreneurs. The legislation also contributed to the creation of the SBA's Women’s Business Center network.

For women considering entrepreneurship, access to information and business support can be especially important during the early stages of building a company. Business owners may need assistance understanding financing, government contracting, marketing, compliance, hiring and other operational issues.

The SBA's Women-Owned Small Business program is one example of a federal initiative specifically designed to expand opportunities for eligible women-owned companies in government contracting. A related SBA event held on October 1 focused on the certification program and explained how eligible businesses can participate in federal contracting opportunities.

Government contracting represents one potential market for women-owned businesses, particularly companies capable of providing professional, technical, construction, consulting or other services to federal agencies. Certification requirements and eligibility rules determine which businesses can participate in designated contracting programs.

The importance of women-owned businesses extends beyond the owners themselves. Small businesses create employment, purchase goods and services from other companies and contribute to local economies. As women-owned enterprises grow, their economic activity can therefore affect employees, suppliers and communities.

The SBA has also emphasized access to capital as an important component of women entrepreneurship. Previous agency reporting documented growth in lending to women-owned small businesses and highlighted the availability of SBA-backed financing programs and other support resources.

At the same time, National Women's Small Business Month is not simply a recognition campaign. It provides an opportunity to examine the infrastructure surrounding entrepreneurship and whether business owners can access the information, capital, training and networks necessary to operate successfully.

The focus is particularly relevant as entrepreneurship continues to include a wide range of business models. Women-owned companies operate across professional services, health care, retail, education, technology and many other sectors. Some employ large teams, while others are independent businesses operated by a single owner.

The SBA's continuing emphasis on women entrepreneurs reflects the size and diversity of that business community. The agency has maintained Women’s Business Centers and other support programs as part of its broader small-business assistance network.

As National Women's Small Business Month gets underway, the focus is therefore both celebratory and economic. Women-owned businesses form a substantial part of the U.S. business landscape, while public and private organizations continue developing programs intended to help entrepreneurs access markets, knowledge and capital.

For business communities across the country, the month offers an opportunity to recognize the scale of women's participation in entrepreneurship while examining the practical resources that can help women-owned companies start, operate and expand.