The Virginia Employment Commission listed 116 women-owned business in Front Royal that have more than one paid employee. Women-owned businesses are unique in many ways. They are generally smaller, sleeker and more efficient than their predecessors. They often address problems that women have traditionally confronted in the workplace such as pregnancy leave, flextime, opportunities for advancement and pay equality. They often start with nothing more than an idea and lots of energy.
Women start their own businesses for a variety of reasons.
The need for independence, flexibility, freedom from corporate limitations and the freedom to take risks are often motivational factors. Initially, Lee began her business as a part-time venture. As it grew, she took it on full-time and supplemented her income with childcare. She says that the greatest reward of having her own business is having her sanity back. Nan Hathaway, owner of the Royal Oak Bookshop, began her business for a different reason.