Why It Matters

  • ADA Accessible / Disability-Owned

    Did you know that 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability? That’s over 70 million people who benefit when businesses prioritize accessibility. When it comes to entrepreneurship, more than 1.8 million business owners in the U.S. are people with disabilities.

  • Allergy/Sensitivity Friendly

    Around 33 million Americans—including nearly 1 in every 10 adults—live with food allergies. That’s a whole lot of people who appreciate allergy-friendly options! On top of that, 1 in 4 Americans avoid certain allergens when they shop. Allergy-friendly businesses aren’t just thoughtful, they’re in demand!

  • Cruelty-Free

    The majority of shoppers—85% to be exact—are already choosing cruelty-free or vegan beauty products. Over half of the top beauty brands have gone cruelty-free, showing that doing good and looking good go hand in hand.

  • Veteran-Owned

    There are over 18 million US veterans, and many continue to serve their communities long after their military careers end. About 5.4% of all U.S. businesses are veteran-owned. That’s more than 300,000 businesses led by those who’ve served!

  • LGBTQ+ Friendly / Queer-Owned

    As of 2024, nearly one in 10 adults identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ owned businesses are a powerhouse, contributing almost $2 trillion to the U.S. economy every year.

  • Women-Owned

    Women make up just over half of the U.S. population, owning over 12 million businesses nationwide and supporting more than 10.7 million jobs.

  • Minority-Owned

    1 in 5 businesses in the U.S. is minority-owned, helping drive local economies and create jobs. About 40% of people in the U.S. identify as a racial or ethnic minority, bringing rich culture and diversity to every community.

  • First-Generation Owned

    Immigrants make up 14.3% of the U.S. population, and 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ owned businesses is immigrant-owned, showing how diverse communities come together to build thriving businesses.

  • Environmentally Friendly

    78% of Americans care about living sustainably and want to make eco-friendly choices part of their everyday life. North America leads the way in the cruelty-free cosmetics market, holding over 32% of the global share in 2023—proof that doing good sells.

Sources:

  • ADA Accessible / Disability-Owned

    • https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0716-Adult-disability.html

    • https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/reports/small-business-ownership-pwd-challenges-and-opportunities/

  • Allergy/Sensitivity Friendly

    • https://www.foodallergy.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/FARE%20Food%20Allergy%20Facts%20and%20Statistics_April2024.pdf

    • https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/consumers-with-food-allergies-a-growing-market-remains-underserved

  • Cruelty-Free

    • https://www.v-label.com/consumer-insights/key-consumer-insights-on-vegan-cosmetics/

    • https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/animal-testing-statistics/

  • Veteran-Owned

    • https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/08/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/

    • https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/11/veteran-owned-businesses.html

  • LGBTQ+ Friendly / Queer-Owned

    • https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/lgbtq-adults-percentage-grows-survey

    • https://www.forbes.com/sites/rhettbuttle/2024/06/12/lgbtqi-businesses-contribute-nearly-2-trillion-to-economy/

  • Women-Owned

    • https://www.statista.com/statistics/737923/us-population-by-gender/

    • https://advocacy.sba.gov/2024/03/12/facts-about-small-business-women-ownership-statistics-2024/

  • Minority-Owned

    • https://www.prb.org/usdata/indicator/race-ethnicity/snapshot

    • https://nawbo.org/expert-reviews/blog/percentage-of-small-businesses/

  • First-Generation Owned

    • https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states

    • https://www.lgbtmap.org/news/2022-release-LGBTQ-owned-small-businesses-report

  • Environmentally Friendly

    • https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/consumers-care-about-sustainability-and-back-it-up-with-their-wallets

    • https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cruelty-free-cosmetics-market-report