Women business owners across the country are optimistic about their business prospects and focused on business  growth,  according to a membership survey just released by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).  The survey was underwritten by Principal Financial Group and conducted for NAWBO by The Center for Women's Business Research. 
 
"Not only are members optimistic about economic and business conditions in the U.S., they are also focused on the health and expansion of their own businesses.  In the coming year, nearly half (47%) say they will expand their businesses into new  markets, one-third (34%) plan to hire new employees and a quarter (25%) say they will increase capital investment," said Mary MacRae, NAWBO national president.  "Furthermore, nine in ten (87%) of our members plan to purchase, lease or upgrade products or services for their businesses within the next year."
 
Along with their focus on business growth, members anticipate the need for additional capital.  Three-quarters (76%) of NAWBO members expect to need more capital over the next three years, including 4% who say they will require an additional $1 million or more in growth capital.
 
NAWBO members cite business growth as the first key business issue of concern; fully 43% cite it as their top concern, in response to an open-ended question.  Other top business concerns include workforce issues such as training, hiring and educating their workforces (26%), cash flow and capital (22%) and marketing (20%).
 
"Given that workforce issues are so important, employee benefits are an important concern," said Mary O'Keefe, senior vice president, Principal Financial Group.  "Eight in ten (79%) of NAWBO members have employees in their businesses, and three-quarters (75%) of these employer firms offer benefits to employees.  On average, these employer firms provide 5.5 different benefits to their employees, including paid vacation (58%), health and medical benefits (57%), training (47%), flex-time (44%), paid sick leave (43%) and professional development opportunities (43%)." 
 
"Principal Financial Group is committed to providing the insurance services to help women business owners provide the most comprehensive set of benefits to their employees," continued O'Keefe.
 
NAWBO members are also concerned with a variety of public policy issues.  Their top concern is association health plans (58%), followed by: taxes (55%), technology (30%), education and the workforce (26%), government procurement (19%) and Social Security (11%). 
 
The survey shows that NAWBO businesses are larger in terms of both revenue and employment than women-owned businesses in general. 
 
"NAWBO businesses are creating employment and contributing to the economy.  Twenty-four percent (24%) of our members' businesses generate $1 million or more in annual revenue," said Sandra Hernandez Adams, immediate past president of NAWBO. "Almost 80% of our businesses have employees, compared to 14.5% of all businesses, and our businesses are in all industries."
 
"NAWBO is the organization creating innovative and effective changes for women in business and propelling women entrepreneurs into economic spheres of power worldwide."