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Puget Powerhouses

Washington ranks No. 1 for women-owned businesses

By Seattle Business Magazine May 13, 2025

A woman wearing sunglasses and a black shirt smiles and points at the Pike Place Market Center sign in Washington state’s iconic outdoor market setting.
Stephanie King of Kitchen & Market—one of many women powering Washington’s business scene.
Photo courtesy of Kitchen & Market

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of Seattle magazine.

Washington has a higher percentage of women-owned businesses than any other state. Forty-two percent of all businesses here are female owned.

At 34%, the state also ranks No. 1 for its percentage of women-owned businesses that earn more than $1 million in annual revenue. The employment rate of all women across the state is 59%, consistent with the national average.

Here are the top 10 states, ranked by percentage. The national average is 34%.

  • 42: Washington
  • 41: Idaho
  • 40: New Mexico
  • 39: Oregon
  • 39: Arizona
  • 39: Montana
  • 38: Hawaii
  • 38: Wyoming
  • 38: Florida
  • 37: Alaska
SOURCE: LENDIO

Big Number

$100 Million

Amount Amazon has committed to develop affordable housing in Bellevue.

Two people shake hands on stage at a BRIDGE Housing event in Washington state, with a poster of an apartment complex in the background.
David Zapolsky of Amazon at the groundbreaking of Spring District—part of the company’s $100 million commitment to affordable housing in Bellevue.
Photo courtesy of Amazon
SOURCE: DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION (2024)

Quotable Quotes

“We want a customer to be able to check her phone to find out what she can afford, see which homes are just right for her, schedule a tour and get pre-qualified.”

— Glenn Kelman, Redfin CEO, explaining why the Seattle company is being acquired by Detroit-based Rocket Cos.

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