In 2024, women started nearly 1 of every 2 new businesses in America. That’s the highest rate on record, according to Gusto’s 2025 New Business Formation study. In addition, between 2019 and 2023, the number of women-owned businesses increased at nearly double the rate of their male counterparts, the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report reveals. Women are leaving traditional corporate roles in unprecedented numbers to pursue entrepreneurship, writing their own rules for what success looks like.
One example is April Springer, a former HR professional turned multi-unit business owner with Next Day Access, a provider of mobility and accessibility products. Based in Minneapolis, she owns three locations and also serves as vice president for the Minnesota and Pittsburgh territories. Her first location generated more than $1 million in revenue in its first year. She’s since expanded into multiple markets and now mentors other women in franchising.
Her journey offers insights into the most powerful reasons millions of women are choosing entrepreneurship over corporate careers.
1. Personal Values Now Define Success
The traditional corporate ladder no longer represents the pinnacle of achievement for many women. Success has become deeply personal, shaped by individual values rather than external expectations. As Springer explains, “I think women are redefining success on their own terms. There’s no one-size-fits-all version of what a successful career or life looks like.”
This shift stems from:
- A broader cultural awakening about what truly matters in life and work
- Growing skepticism that climbing the corporate hierarchy serves personal goals
- An increasing turn toward entrepreneurship as a path to greater fulfillment
Expert Tip: Before making any major career move, write down your personal definition of success in specific, measurable terms. If you find yourself describing someone else’s achievements or using vague terms, you haven’t defined it yet. Your definition should be so clear you’d know instantly whether you’re living it.
2. Corporate Structures Don’t Offer Flexibility
Traditional employment models weren’t built for modern life. More women are seeking careers that can adapt to their evolving priorities, whether that’s family responsibilities, personal passions or the desire for autonomy over their schedules. As Springer explains, “The traditional corporate path doesn’t always offer the flexibility, fulfillment or creativity many women are seeking. Entrepreneurship allows women to design a life and career that align with their values and priorities.”
What flexibility really means:
- Control over when, where and how you work
- The ability to adapt your career to life changes
- Working smarter on your own terms
Expert Tip: Track your energy and productivity patterns for two weeks. If your current job structure conflicts with your natural rhythms and priorities more than 60% of the time, that’s a signal that entrepreneurship might serve you better.
3. Social Media Sparks a New Wave of Female Entrepreneurs
The rise of social media has transformed how women view entrepreneurship. Platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok showcase real stories of women building successful businesses, making the path to entrepreneurship feel more accessible than ever before. Springer notes the impact of this visibility, “Social media has also played a big role in this shift. When women see others building successful businesses and balancing life in ways that inspire them, it creates momentum.”
The digital community effect includes:
- Real-time access to diverse entrepreneurial role models and success stories
- Practical insights into day-to-day business operations and challenges
- A virtuous cycle where visibility inspires more women to take the leap
Expert Tip: Follow 10-15 women entrepreneurs in your industry on social media. Don’t just scroll—actively engage. Comment on their posts, ask questions and join conversations. The connections you build digitally often translate into real mentorship and support when you launch your own venture.
4. Franchising Offers a Lower-Risk Entry Point
For women who want to be their own boss but feel intimidated by starting from scratch, franchising presents a compelling middle ground. Franchise models provide proven systems, established branding and built-in support networks that significantly reduce the risk associated with new business ventures.
The franchise advantage includes:
- Access to training programs, operational blueprints and marketing resources
- Established brand recognition that would take years to build independently
- Built-in support systems and peer networks of fellow franchisees
Expert Tip: Before investing in any franchise, speak with at least five current franchisees you choose yourself—not the ones referred by the franchisor. Ask specifically about hidden costs, actual time commitments and whether they’d make the same choice again.
5. Women Want Mission-Driven Work
Many women entrepreneurs aren’t just chasing profits. They’re building small businesses with purpose. The desire to create meaningful impact drives many women to leave stable corporate positions for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.
Mission-driven businesses benefit from:
- Stronger employee attraction and retention through shared values
- Deeper customer loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing
- Greater resilience during difficult times because purpose fuels persistence
Expert Tip: Define your business mission in one sentence: “We help [specific people] achieve [specific outcome] so they can [meaningful benefit].” If you struggle to complete this sentence clearly, spend more time refining your purpose. A vague mission won’t sustain you through entrepreneurship’s challenges.
6. Corporate Job Security No Longer Exists
Amazon recently announced 14,000 corporate job cuts, while Target eliminated 1,000 roles. Entire departments can disappear overnight due to restructuring, automation or economic shifts. For many women, entrepreneurship offers more control over their financial future than any corporate job ever could. When you own your business, your income depends on your own efforts, not on someone else’s decision to cut headcount.
Why women are choosing entrepreneurship over corporate jobs:
- Mass layoffs have shown that corporate jobs offer no real security
- Building your own business means having more control over your career
- Diversifying income streams provides more stability than a single employer
Expert Tip: If you’re concerned about leaving your corporate job, start your business as a side hustle while still employed. Test your concept, build a client base and validate your income potential before making the leap. Many successful entrepreneurs launch this way, reducing risk while proving their business model works.
The millions of women pursuing entrepreneurship today aren’t abandoning ambition. They’re redefining it on their own terms. It proves the best career path isn’t always the one laid out by someone else. Often, it’s the one you build yourself.
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