Charlotte metro's "she"-conomy expands

Women-owned business openings in the Charlotte metro increased 19% in 2023 compared to 2022, Axios' Analis Bailey reports from new Yelp data.

By the numbers: 610 women-owned businesses opened up in metro Charlotte in 2023, compared to 511 in 2022.

• A few include a pickleball hub , a bookstore on wheels and a nail salon .

The big picture: Women-owned business openings rose 17% nationwide.

• Austin (34%), Miami (31%), Washington, D.C. (25%), Denver (25%) and Orlando (22%) saw the highest growth rates among U.S. metros with at least 500 openings in 2023, according to Yelp .

Fun fact: Women-owned hotels and travel businesses saw the highest new business growth, 16% more than the national average. The Charlotte metro saw women-led limo businesses grow by 400%.

• Charlotte also saw a 233% uptick in home organization businesses owned by women.

What they're saying: "Whether you attended a women-led stadium tour, adopted a new wellness routine, picked up a new bestselling book, or updated your wardrobe, the 'she-conomy' dominated cultural trends and ultimately drove economic growth," Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis told Axios in a statement.