Top 10 Resources for Women-Owned Businesses
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Women business owners are driving the economy. According to the American Express 2019 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, the number of women-owned businesses is growing at more than double the rate of businesses overall. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of women-owned businesses leaped by 21%, bringing the total number to nearly 13 million. As of 2019, women-owned businesses constituted about 42% of all businesses. This increase in entrepreneurship indicates that women are seeking alternatives to the traditional workforce to establish economic self-sufficiency – and pursuing business ownership as a wealth-building tool instead.
Starting and maintaining businesses can be daunting, but there are many resources supporting entrepreneurs and women owned small businesses. Whether you want to connect to other business owners, seek funding, or build your skills, the following is a list of some of the best resources to keep you on track.
The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a host of free resources for small businesses – including capital, counseling, and training – with special programs and certifications providing federal opportunities for businesses owned by women and minorities.
The National Women’s Business Council is a federal advisory committee for policies that propel women entrepreneurship that also provides free resources to women entrepreneurs. These include webinars, roundtables connecting business owners to policymakers, and public meetings to gather input from the entrepreneurial community.
The National Association of Women Business Owners has chapters across the country that provide members with access to educational resources, training, mentorship, business publications, and a host of other online resources.
SCORE is a national organization with chapters across the country that provides a number of initiatives and programs – most notably a large network of free volunteer mentors. SCORE also hosts business roundtables and webinars, and it has a Small Business Resilience program to help individuals overcome the many challenges that go along with business ownership.
Grants.gov is a website overseen by the federal government that provides a one-stop-shop for all things related to federal grant opportunities. Not only can you search and apply for grants, but you can also access a wealth of information and advice on applying for the right grants for you.
Small Business Development Centers constitute a nationwide network of local offices dedicated to helping small businesses. Over 1,000 of these centers exist to provide consulting and training at little to no cost for business owners. You can find your local SBDC here.
The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project is a nonprofit organization that supports women of color entrepreneurs and business owners. Members of WEOP can access classes and webinars on various topics such as SBA certifications, federal contracting, civic engagement, and more. WEOP also provides one-on-one consulting, monthly business roundtables, and networking opportunities.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the largest organization of business owners in the U.S. Members are routinely briefed on research and information on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses, as well as provided access to webinars, guides, and other resources on starting and running a small business. You can become a member of the national organization here and locate your local Chamber here.
Usa.gov is a government-run directory of federal programs, with a section dedicated to small businesses. Here you can find information to help start a business, find funding and local resources, and learn about taxes and government contracting.
Community Development Financial Institutions are local organizations – ranging from banks to credit unions to microloan funds – that can provide financing for local businesses in underserved communities. To find a participating CDFI in your area, click here. You can also find local CDFIs through SCORE or your local SBDC.
Every successful small business owner has had help along the way. The entrepreneurial world can seem overwhelming to navigate – especially for women! This list is a great starting point to find training, guidance, funding, mentorship, and anything else you might need to make your business thrive.
