Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Smart Financial Planning
As a woman business owner, your personal and professional goals are deeply connected. At Mercer Advisors, we help women entrepreneurs navigate the financial complexity that comes with leadership, helping ensure your wealth, your business, and your future all move in the same direction.
Personal Wealth Strategy for Women Business Owners
Women own a third of U.S. small businesses1, balancing leadership, innovation, and personal responsibilities. Managing both business and home life can be challenging, especially when juggling family obligations: one-third of women business owners have school-aged children at home.2
We understand the pressures of running a business while working for financial security, and we provide guidance to help you seek long-term stability and growth.
Beyond financial planning, women entrepreneurs often face industry-specific complexities, whether it’s navigating male-dominated sectors, managing employees, or securing funding for their business. Our advisors can help you balance personal and professional priorities, as well as business transition support if you’re considering selling or restructuring your company.
1 U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship: Women’s Small Business Ownership and Entrepreneurship Report
2 How the Pandemic’s Childcare Crisis Impacted Women-owned Businesses and Altered their Future | Gusto
Succession and Exit Planning for Women
A well-planned business transition helps protect the wealth you’ve built while providing stability for your next chapter. Women entrepreneurs often face unique challenges when navigating succession, from accessing business valuations to ensuring leadership continuity in industries where women are underrepresented.
We help women business owners plan for their exit by:
- Structuring a sale or transition that aligns with personal and financial goals.
- Navigating valuation challenges to seek fair compensation for your hard work.
- Helping maximize value through strategic tax and financial planning.
- Developing a diversified portfolio post-sale to position you for long-term stability.
- Addressing estate planning for business assets and wealth preservation.
Specialized Services for Women Entrepreneurs
- Optimizing your business structure for tax efficiency and liability protection
- Accessing funding through loans, grants, and strategic financial planning
- Leveraging tax breaks and deductions for women-owned businesses
- Planning for retirement with customized savings plans for you and employees
- Diversifying income sources to sustain financial stability long-term
- Preparing succession/exit plans for business sales or transitions
- Reducing risk exposure with insurance and asset protection strategies
- Aligning financial goals with both business and personal wealth planning
Mercer Global Advisors has a related insurance agency. Mercer Advisors Insurance Services, LLC (MAIS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercer Advisors Inc. MAIS provides individual life, disability, long term care coverage, and property and casualty coverage through various insurance companies. For Mercer Global Advisors clients who wish to purchase insurance products, MAIS has entered into a non-exclusive referral agreement with Strategic Partner(s), where the Strategic Partner will provide necessary services relative to the marketing, placement, and servicing of the insurance products, including without limitation preparing and presenting illustrations, supporting the underwriting process, assisting with the completion and execution of applications, delivering policies, and servicing in-force business. MAIS and the Strategic Partner will be listed as either “agents” or “co-agents” on the policies. While Mercer Global Advisors does not receive a referral fee, Strategic Partner receives a percentage of the commission revenue. MAIS and Strategic Partner do have a revenue sharing agreement.
Tax Planning and Other Strategies to Support Your Long-Term Vision
Tax planning is a critical component of building a financially resilient business. For women business owners, there are unique opportunities to maximize tax efficiency, take advantage of specialized deductions, and strategically position your company for long-term success that’s aligned with your values and goals.
Tax Breaks and Deductions for Women-Owned Businesses
Women entrepreneurs may qualify for exclusive tax benefits, grants, and deductions designed to support female-owned enterprises. We can help you:
- Leverage SBA loan incentives designed for women-owned businesses to secure funding with favorable tax implications.
- Maximize deductions for business expenses, including office costs, marketing, employee salaries, and professional development.
- Take advantage of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification, which can unlock federal contracts and tax incentives.
- Use retirement contributions as tax-efficient savings, seeking personal financial stability while reducing taxable income.
Support Philanthropy and Impact Through Smart Giving Strategies
Philanthropy can be an effective way to make an impact while also benefiting from tax savings. We help women business owners develop giving strategies that align with their financial and community goals, such as:
- Establishing donor-advised funds to help ensure controlled, long-term charitable giving and tax optimization.
- Integrating social responsibility initiatives into financial plans and portfolios.
- Structuring philanthropic gifts such as appreciated stock to minimize tax burdens while creating meaningful impact.
Solutions Tailored to
Female Entrepreneurs Like You
As a woman entrepreneur, your financial strategy should reflect both the complexity of your business and the goals you hold personally. These solutions are designed to help you align today’s decisions with tomorrow’s success—whether you’re building, transitioning, or stepping into the next chapter.
Common Questions From Women Business Owners
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Many women business owners don’t have formal succession plans, making transitions more complex. Whether selling, passing ownership to employees, or keeping it in the family, a structured exit strategy promotes both financial security and business continuity.
We can connect you with preferred providers to assess and help maximize your company’s valuation, seeking to ensure you receive full compensation for the business you’ve built. With specialist planning, you can protect your legacy and financial future while stepping into your next chapter with confidence.
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Your business is a major asset, but it shouldn’t be your only source of financial security. Prioritize personal savings outside your business, investing in tax-advantaged retirement plans, IRAs, and emergency funds to protect your future.
Legacy planning is also key. We design estate plans that help secure business assets for future generations while seeking financial stability. If you sell your business, we guide you in reinvesting proceeds into a diversified wealth strategy, supporting long-term independence and financial confidence.
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Yes, women business owners can benefit from exclusive tax breaks, grants, and funding opportunities designed to support female-owned enterprises. These advantages include SBA loan incentives, business expense deductions, and federal contract access through WOSB certification. Additionally, tax-efficient retirement contributions help secure personal financial stability while reducing taxable income.
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The simplest answer: Maintain a balance between business reinvestment and personal wealth-building. Use tax-advantaged accounts, diversify investments beyond your business, and ensure cash flow supports both expansion and financial security.
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The earlier, the better, ideally years before you intend to transition. A structured exit helps strategy promotes smooth leadership changes, maximizes business valuation, and protect your long-term financial future.
Women Entrepreneurs Checklist
As a woman business owner, planning ahead means thinking beyond daily operations. Use this checklist to help make sure your business success translates into personal financial independence, long-term security, and a legacy you control.
