But, unfortunately, women still face blocked avenues to financial products and services. This difficulty may stem from the type of businesses that women tend to run. A majority of their companies are in the service sector, and we know anecdotally that many owners of service businesses have been frustrated by their bankers’ lack of understanding of how to value such an enterprise. That, in turn, can make it difficult to obtain adequate funding. Our research continues to show even the most financially successful women-owned businesses are less likely than their male-owned counterparts to use either credit or equity.

Women have clearly demonstrated their entrepreneurial appetite and skills. In general, our research shows that the women who are at the leading edge of growth are skilled entrepreneurs comfortable with risk, financially sophisticated, know how to use advisors and are successful even when using fewer sources of capital than their male counterparts. Female owners of million-dollar businesses are more likely to have a website that is capable of fulfilling online transactions or online ordering (56 percent compared to 38 percent) and are more likely to market nationally. If they have been this successful without high levels of investment, imagine the growth and contributions they could make to our economy with access to greater financial resources.

Sharon G. Hadary is executive director of the Center for Women’s Business Research.