Texas was ranked as the second fastest-growing state in the nation behind Georgia for the number of women-owned businesses in 2014, according to the State of Women-Owned Businesses Report. The report takes into account U.S. Census data starting in the late 1990s, which was a time when many companies were downsizing and people were changing careers, said Melanie Hugele, president of the Cy-Fair Women's Express Network.
"In the suburbs, it can be difficult to have a family and commute downtown, so people started looking to open a business for themselves so they could control their commute or work location," she said. "We've also found that sometimes women who have a traditional job are looking for the next step and will take on a side business to supplement income or make an exit strategy as they move toward retirement."
Cy-Fair is keeping pace with the state in this particular sector as women own a number of local boutiques and businesses in the area.
Donna McCarty launched her business, Misfit Design Group, in 2010 with her husband, Dean. It began with designing stickers for remote control cars, but took on a life of its own as more customers began requesting promotional products ranging from shirts to banners to in-house stickers and name tags.
McCarty said one of the biggest challenges for any business owner is getting their name out there in the community.
"Network everywhere," she said. "Anytime there's a meeting, go and let people know you're there. Find groups you're most comfortable with, and those are the ones you need to stick with."
Another challenge some businesswomen still face today is finding a balance between family and work life, Hugele said.
"If you are raising a family at the same time as owning a business, you don't just work 8 to 5, it's around the clock," she said. "Your mind is always on your business—you're concerned about marketing strategies, sales, payroll and every aspect of the business. Having to balance and manage a business when you're also a key caregiver in the home can sometimes be a challenge."
A local chapter of the American Business Women's Association, CYFEN is one resource available to businesswomen in Cy-Fair, allowing them to network and mentor one another.
The organization, which has about 70 members, also offers classes through the Women Information Network and its members can travel to national conferences each year.
"If I didn't have an organization like CYFEN to get the word out about my business, I would be sitting at home twirling my fingers and hoping my website would bring in some traffic," Hugele said. "Meeting these movers and shakers has made the biggest difference in the world. CYFEN is successful because Cypress is a growing and booming area, so coming with that you get a socioeconomic level of individuals striving to better themselves."
Other networking resources for Cy-Fair residents include the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking International, Hugele said.
"You can spend thousands of dollars to get a [Master of Business Administration degree], but will that necessarily give you a paycheck?" Hugele said. "No, it's about seeing what business owners in the trenches do that works and replicating that."
