Lipstick Entrepreneurs

The term “lipstick entrepreneur” is a slang term used to describe female business owners, and specifically, female business owners who start said businesses (a) when economic times are tough, and (b) in industries that typically appeal more to females, like cosmetics and the dreaded essential oils.

There are several reasons why a woman might want to start her own business. Maybe she wants the extra money. Maybe she wants to work but needs a flexible schedule. Maybe she believes in the product she’s selling. Or maybe she just really wants to be a business owner.

We should mention that there are some out there who take issue with the term “lipstick entrepreneur.” To them, the “lipstick” qualifier is less about identifying the new business’s industry than it is about pointing out the gender of the entrepreneur responsible for bringing it to life, which they argue is unnecessary. So if we’re the err-on-the-side-of-caution type, it might not be a bad idea to just refer to entrepreneurs as entrepreneurs, and leave the lipstick at home.