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After spending more than 20 years on Wall Street, Cynthia Jermin of Jamaica, Queens is rolling out a new venture - the Royal Napmat, an all-in-one sleeping mat for toddlers. Jermin started selling her mats last June after receiving a pink slip from the investment bank where she worked.

"It was really quite amazing that this idea had come to me when it did. Literally the day that I finished writing my business plan was the day that I was informed that I would be laid off," says Jermin.

Instead of focusing on the job loss, Jermin decided to join the growing number women business owners in Queens and become her own boss.

"We come with the same education, same imagination, creativity, 'go-get-it-ness' as everybody else. So from that perspective, on that level we are on the same playing field," says Jermin. "From the perspective of the number of responsibilities that we are going to have to juggle as a woman, that is where we have a bigger challenge I think than most men."

Even with those challenges, women are starting businesses in the borough at a higher rate than men, according to the Queens Economic Development Corporation, and it shows in their weekly entrepreneur assistance class. QEDC officials say it's a trend that can also be seen across the country.

"Women are outpacing men 5-to-1 in starting businesses right now," says QEDC director of business services Jamila Payne.

Since last September, QEDC has counseled and trained over 900 female clients.

"Going off on on my own as an entrepreneur here in Queens has been very exciting, and also very scary at the same time. Particularly with this economic climate," says President Susan Sena of Sena Consulting.

QEDC expects another 3,000 female clients by the end of July, and Payne says the center will host over 30 events this year specifically targeting women entrepreneurs.

Payne also says that women thinking about venturing out on their own business need to first consider three things.

"One is where does your passion and skills lie. The other should be where are the market opportunities, and then making sure you are developing a business that fits your lifestyle," she says.

After all, one's lifestyle changes completely once a businesses becomes one's own.