YWCA Alaska Women's Business Center: leveling the playing field for women entrepreneurs.

• Author: Ailleo, Caren M.
• Position: Special section: SMALL BUSINESS

When most people in the United States think of small business in Alaska, images come to mind of crab fishermen battling the elements in the Bering Sea for the prized king crab, truck drivers maneuvering big rigs up the treacherous ice road through the frozen tundra to Deadhorse, or the local taxidermist putting the finishing touches to a hunter's prized big game mount. Seldom do we think of the hard working, average small business owner who is the driving force for the Alaska economy, and even more seldom do we think of that business owner as a woman.

There are now approximately 19,000 women owned businesses in Alaska. Many are owner-operated, while others have served to create jobs for Alaskans in many different fields. YWCA Alaska houses the only Women's Business Center in the state.

Ask any business owner today who the primary consumers in the United States are, and the answer will be: "Women." Women represent an economic powerhouse, making more than 85 percent of consumer purchases and influencing 95 percent of total goods and services. Women business owners understand the needs of their customers because they are consumers themselves.

Studies have shown that women have strong communication and social skills, attributes of a successful entrepreneur. They are more likely to work together and view their employees as their team.

Over the past five years, women entrepreneurs have outnumbered men in this country in the creation of small businesses. In Alaska, although women-owned businesses represent about a quarter of all businesses in the state, many more businesses are owned jointly by men and women.

Who are the women small business owners in Alaska? They are, in many instances, the sole supports of their families. They come in with an idea and a dream. They are determined to start a business and become a success. Through education, counseling, mentoring and hard work these women realize their goals of small business ownership.

Many have limited funding and start off in a small way, slowly growing their businesses as they become more successful. Women do more with less-that is the rule for today's economy. Attracting far less in the way of institutional and venture funding, women entrepreneurs are more focused on profit than revenue, and "a little goes a long way" in terms of their businesses.

Are women encouraged to...