• Women own 585,000 of the 1.9 million small businesses operating in Australia (around 33% and growing!)
• Women own almost half of all home-based businesses and one-third of businesses operating from other locations.
• Women setting up business from home is the fastest growing sector of the Australian economy.
• 46% of women run their businesses from home - a 20% increase in the last five years.
• Women make or influence 80% of all purchasing decisions.
• Women owned businesses have less external debt, are more profitable and profitable much earlier than those owned by men.
• 94% of all Australian businesses have an annual turnover of less that 2 million dollars.

And because women bring not just different qualities but also a different outlook to business...

The Sensis Business Index Report for March 2010 shows that:

• 62% of women who own or run businesses hold stronger expectations for sales in a year's time compared to 57% of businesses run by men.
• 87% of women run businesses that had applied for finance reported success with their applications, compared with 59% of businesses run by men.
• 54% of women believe the economy will perform better in a year's time, compared to 48% of men.
• 10% of women were aiming for significant growth, compared to 6% of men.

The Anna Rennie Chapter is a special interest group of the Port Adelaide Enfield Chamber of Commerce www.portadelaide.org.au