Maryland Women Are Starting More Businesses. What’s Driving the Shift?

October 19, 2026 by Admin

Sometimes the next career move is not finding a job. It is creating one.

A new report from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office found that women were responsible for 58% of new businesses established in Maryland since 2019. That makes women a major force behind the state’s recent startup growth.

For the Annapolis Moms community, that statistic feels especially relevant.

Women are often balancing careers with caregiving, school schedules, household responsibilities, and the need for greater flexibility. The report notes that workplace flexibility and caregiving demands play a major role in women’s economic participation. It also found that wage gaps and dissatisfaction with pay can push some women toward entrepreneurship.

Progress, but the Gaps Are Still Real

The business growth is encouraging, but the same report shows women still trail men in several economic measures.

Maryland’s labor-force participation rate is 65% for women compared with 73% for men, an eight-point gap. The report also identifies continuing disparities in wages, business ownership, leadership, and access to capital.

So while more women are launching businesses, starting one is not necessarily the easy path.

Access to financing, professional networks, affordable childcare, and time remain real challenges.

Local Help Is Available

Fortunately, Anne Arundel County has resources for women considering entrepreneurship.

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) offers business counseling, startup guidance, financing resources, and an Inclusive Ventures Program designed to help small, women-owned, minority-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses grow. AAEDC’s VOLT financing programs also specifically include women-owned businesses.

That makes entrepreneurship worth considering not only for someone with a fully formed business plan, but also for anyone wondering whether a side hustle, freelance service, or longtime idea could become something more.

And for those who would rather join a growing local business than start one, Annapolis Moms Media Job Connect connects local employers with Anne Arundel job seekers.