5 Great Tips From Successful Women Entrepreneurs

Joanna Goddard of A Cup of Jo

Between 1997 and 2014, the number of businesses in the United States increased by 47 percent, but the number of women-owned firms increased by 68 percent, according to the most recent study by American Express OPEN. This is great news for women who are thinking about starting their own companies. Another good thing is to take advice from women who have been there and done it.

Tips from top female entrepreneurs

Inc. magazine, a monthly publication focused on growing companies, publishes an annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. In a recent article, they published tips from top female entrepreneurs around the country who were more than happy to share ideas to help other women wanna-be entrepreneurs.

1. Know what you want to do - it's important to have a clear vision for what you want to accomplish. "You spend a large part of your life working -- make it a story you want to tell," advises Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs of Food52, an online cooking and food site.
2. Use your time wisely - everyone works differently, so find out what schedule aligns with your highest productivity times and stick to it. "Find a schedule that works for you," advises Deb Perelman, Smitten Kitchen, an online site that features home cooking from a tiny New York City kitchen and new favorite things to cook.
3. There will be ups and downs but don't focus on the downs - starting your own business will be a roller coaster ride. "Take the breakdowns in stride," advises Sharon Montrose, The Animal Print Shop, an online shop dedicated to sales of Sharon Montrose's Animal Series Fine Art Photography.
4. Be there every day - "You just have to show up. Every day," emphasizes Anne Serrano-McClain, MCMC Fragrances, a Brooklyn based fragrance house founded in 2009 by Anne McClain that sells perfume and perfume oils.
5. Be there for others - maintaining good communications and showing empathy to others is very important, says Rony Vardi, Catbird, a Brooklyn-based tiny boutique offering stylish rings, bracelets and unique gifts.

These 5 tips are included in Joanna Goddard's lifestyle blog, Cup of Joe, an accumulation of 20 career tips from nine female entrepreneurs.

To read more, visit www.inc.com/edward-cox/Stay-fresh-at-work-with-these-inspiring-pointers.html