Women are a force to be reckoned with, especially in business. In the first comprehensive report of the recession\'s effects on women business owners, the Center for Women\'s Business Research, the National Federation of Independent Business and Chase took a close look at how women-owned businesses survived the downturn. The report found that 45 percent of women-owned businesses concentrated on cutting business costs during the recession while 31 percent focused on increasing sales. Despite these and ongoing efforts, women business owners reported that their real volume sales still remain lower today than when the recession began in 2007. While the recession proved to be a prolonged challenge, it also served as a learning period for many businesses, allowing them to see the true value behind both traditional and modern business strategies. See the infographic below for more results of the report.