Women Owned Businesses

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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Women Owned Businesses

The business world has evolved over the years to provide more equal opportunities for men and women alike. While women are still sometimes not paid as much as men are, successful women owned businesses everywhere are proving that women are just as capable as men of being competitive in today's markets.

There are women owned businesses and services dedicated to supporting them all across the country. Female entrepreneurs everywhere find that it is possible to take advantage of programs and organizations that have been established to help them launch their business ventures. Organizations and programs of this kind can help you in things like finding seed money or venture capital, winning bids for government contracts, networking with other female business owners and finding additional resources that may prove helpful.

Women in today's business world can be proud of the steps forward they have made and emboldened by the equality of opportunity that exists today. The Internet can be a useful tool in finding out about services and support available for female owned and managed business ventures. Business.com is a trusted resource that helps businesses everywhere find products, services and solutions. Visit the links on the left to find out more.

Programs for Women Business Owners

If you think you're at a disadvantage as a female entrepreneur, think again. Dozens of organizations and programs have emerged in recent years to help women start and grow their own businesses. Taking advantage of the programs available can help you:

Obtain seed money to get your venture off the ground
Network with other women business owners
Win bids for government contracts
Find additional resources to assist you in starting or growing a venture

Locate a program

Whether you're seeking a loan to expand your business, looking for discounts on business services, or hoping to find a mentor who can help you launch a new venture, there's a program for you.
Try: Check Entrepreneur Magazine's list of private programs and government-sponsored programs for women.

Show me the money

If you're in need of cold, hard cash, you're in luck. Several programs provide women with seed money, micro loans, and even loans of up to $250,000.
Try: Download an application for a loan of $500 to $10,000 from Count Me In or find out how to apply for up to $45,000 in financing at Make Mine a $Million Business. Learn how the SBA's Pre-qualification Loan Program allows women and minorities to pre-qualify for a 7(a) loan up to a maximum of $250,000 before going to a bank.

Make the mentoring and networking connection

Finding a mentor can increase your confidence and give you the knowledge you need to start a business. Networking can be equally invaluable as a way to promote and build your business.
Try: Find a mentor at the National Women's Business Center or at SCORE. Ladies who Launch is a women business owner's networking organization specializing in small business incubators and workshops for its 25,000 members. Can't make it to a networking meeting in your area? Make connections with other entrepreneurial women online at Womenowned.com.

Do business with Uncle Sam

As a woman business owner, you actually have a leg up on the competition when bidding on lucrative federal contracts. However, before you can bid, you need to get certified as a woman-owned business.
Try: Discover the ins and outs of doing business with the federal government at Womenbiz.gov and download an application to get certified as a women business enterprise at the National Women Business Owner Corporation.

Get access to more business resources

Starting and running a business doesn't require a Ph.D., but the more you know about business ownership, the better your chances of succeeding. Take advantage of the many programs available that offer resources to improve your know-how.
Try: Check out programs that really make the grade with a variety of educational and other resources, such as the SBA Women's Business Centers and NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners).

Don't feel like you're taking a "hand-out" by applying for a loan or using resources geared for women. If you don't take advantage of them, another woman business owner will.
Before you join every women's organization you come across, take a little time to determine which ones will best help you achieve your goals.