Miss. ranks 4th in growth for women-owned businesses - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Miss. ranks 4th in growth for women-owned businesses

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Mississippi is number four in the nation in the growth of women-owned businesses, according to a new report commissioned by American Express. Since 1997, female business owners have grown 74.8%. 

Carolyn Boteler, who owns Temp Staff, a temporary worker supplier that does over $18 million a year in business, shared with us some of the female business secrets.  

"Is to treat everybody as you would want to be treated. And that is the golden rule to treat everybody that way," said Boteler. 

WLBT switchboard operator Sally Brock came to us from Temp Staff.  

"I was a temp before I came to WLBT 11 years ago," said Brock. 

Shirley Hall, 50% owner of Hall's Towing Service and part owner of a boutique in Richland, believes the downturn in the economy has helped women.  

"Women have to work, and so they have been creative in that they decided they would own their own business so they would have a little more flexibility, and also provide for their family," said Hall. 

Lauren McGraw, owner of Gotta Go Portable Toilets, space jumps and disposal service does not agree that it is a man's world. 

"Not in Flora, Mississippi it isn't. Not in my world it's not, they always look behind me to see where the man is, is supposed to be running the company, unfortunately for them it's just a woman," said McGraw. 

Boteler, Hall and McGraw do almost $30 million worth of business a year. 

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