Women business owners in Snohomish, Island counties make their mark

Go ahead, start your business engine.

Women entrepreneurs, in particular, are encouraged to hit the accelerator. March is Women’s History month.

The March issue of the Herald Business Journal focuses on women in business and three business owners in Snohomish and Island counties.

International Women’s Day, which is celebrated March 8, was launched in 1911. The global day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

In Washington, 46% of businesses — about 234,000 — are owned by women, according to a U.S. Small Business Administration report.

More than half of women launched their own business because they’re ready to be their own boss, according to a study by Guidant Financial Services, a finance company.

Others found themselves dissatisfied with corporate America or were ready to pursue their passion, the report said. That might describe Lacie Marsh-Carroll, a former Boeing employee, who founded Malicious Candles in 2017. Marsh-Carroll went from melting wax in her Lake Stevens kitchen to selling candles worldwide.

In Lynnwood, the Matthews twins, Kelly and Nichole, also dreamed of turning their hobby — they draw comics — into a career. In 2014, the sisters left “reliable” day jobs and began freelancing full time. It was hard-going at first, but the two illustrators have drawn 14 graphic novels to date. Together, they’re known by the handle KickingShoes.

For still other women, owning a business “allows you to steer your own career course, set your hours and overcome the pay gap that pegs women to making just 79% of that which their male counterparts earn,” according to a report in Forbes magazine.

So, go ahead, start your business engine.

Can’t manage a full-time business? Part-time ventures are also on the rise.

Willow Mietus’ hobby was dying yarn by hand. In 2019, the Coupeville resident spun her talents into a business, Willow on the Water.

Mietus plans to take her part-time business on the road this spring. She recently bought a truck that will serve as a mobile boutique.

Nationwide, about 42% of all businesses, 12.3 million, are owned by women. As of 2019, women of color account for 50% of all women-owned businesses, according to the American Express State of Women-Owned Businesses Report.

Still, 88% of women-owned businesses generate less than $100,000 year in revenue.

The majority of women small business owners, about 22%, worked in retail or e-commerce, followed by health, beauty and fitness services. Business services, food and restaurant and education and training were among the remaining top-ranked categories, according to Guidant Financial.

Interested in starting a full or part-time business ? Here’s a short list of resources.

• Economic Alliance Snohomish County offers comprehensive information about starting or purchasing a business, including resources for businesses owned by women, minorities and veterans.

• TheLab@Everett, a resource for new and existing businesses, offers mentoring, networking and help with product development and marketing. They’re in Everett at 1001 N. Broadway, Suite A. Or check out their Arlington location at TheLab@arlington, 404 N. Olympic Ave

• SCORE provides free business advice and mentoring by volunteer business owners and executives. For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/yv2dnf59

• The Washington Small Business Development Center in Everett provides confidential, objective business advice at no cost to small business owners.

Searching for a support group? The Zonta Club of Everett is part of Zonta International, a global organization, that empowers women through service and advocacy. For over 91 years the Everett Club has been supporting local non-profit agencies with grants and providing educational scholarships to women and girls in our community. For more information go to zontaeverett.org

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.