South Carolina ranked #4 in the U.S. for women-owned businesses last year; with ~11.6 million women-owned businesses in the country, and 164,000 of those here in S.C. (generating ~$15.7 billion in sales).

CommunityWorks – a GVL-based nonprofit offering financial services to underserved populations – prides itself on supporting underrepresented (i.e. women + minority) entrepreneurs in the Upstate + across S.C. They’ve given $3,973,995 in loans to small business owners in less than 10 years, meaning they know a thing or two about small businesses.

Here are 8 small, women-owned businesses they’ve supported or watched grow in the Upstate + across S.C.:

Noteability (music school)
The Vintage Barber (barbershop)
Once Upon a Dream (princess parties)
Bohicket Road (beach life in a bag)
Au Courant Interiors (home decorating whiz)
Fresh Vibes (juice bar and coffee shop)
Facez by Cynthia (specializing in threading and lash extensions)
XF Studio Salon (hair salon)

We also asked you on Instagram for your favorite women-owned businesses. Here are a few:

@splashonmain: “Love seeing how many amazing women-owned businesses we have here...a few of our faves: @blossomshoesgvl @monkeesofthewestend @cottonrougeandco @cacheandcompany @katekandelsalon @katecarlyle @hennesseyinthehome @hennesseehaven @paularallishome @southern_girl_chic
@localstature: “@milkandhoneymrkt @thebarnatpostoak @cindymcgrath_makeup @figleafandco @rosasgvl @leachstudio @buildandborrow @wranglingrealtor864 @barre3fiveforks All women who are killing it here in Greenville! 💚🎉”
@coregrowstrong: “@vannandliv @just__blend @bootybarfitness @augustatwenty”
@emily_jeffords: “Sooo many.... 🙌🏽🙌🏽 @annafduncan, @haleyelisehughes, @kateasireflowers, @laurelcreekflorals @_kristenelrod @laurie_buck @willowflorals”
@purebarregvl: “@swamprabbitcafe @just__blend @kukajuice @augustatwenty @monkeesofthewestend”
@indigoflowart: “@thevillagegrind @sixpencesalonandspa @rockerbelles @lizodesign @kukajuice @artandlightgallery @janinaellisstudio @maya_movement_arts.... there are SO many female biz owners in the Village!!”

...and those are just six of the 780+ comments. See all of them (and tag your additional fav women-owned businesses) on our Instagram post. Our recommendation: Bookmark it on your browser for the next time you need to pick up a gift or a gift certificate and want to support local women. 💪

If you’re a woman looking to start your own biz, learn more about CommunityWorks’ small business loans here. Ⓟ