Small businesses face many problems related to their size, capital, and capability, and for women-owned
small businesses, the challenge is sometimes even greater. The good news is there are many
professional organizations out there that understand the challenges that women-owned small
businesses face and have positioned themselves as resources to help provide assistance. Below are a
few resources women-owned small business owners may wish to consider.
Office of Women's Business Ownership:
The OWBO is an organization created to assist female entrepreneurs with various Small Business
Administration programs. The goal of these programs is to provide a level playing field for all female
entrepreneurs by removing obstacles that may hold them back. Some of the programs offered include
business training, capital and credit access, and business counseling.
National Women's Business Council
The National Women's Business Council aims to serve as the voice of women entrepreneurs in the
United States. They serve as a federal advisory council providing information to the Small Business
Administration, Congress, and even the President themselves about important economic issues women
in business face.
National Association of Women Business Owners
The NAWBO requires annual dues to belong, but they provide a wealth of information and networking
opportunities for women in almost every type of industry. The organization's goal is to push women to
higher levels of economic, social, and political success. With your membership, women gain access to
their training resources as well as educational meetings and networking events.
Women's Business Enterprise National Council
The WBENC is a resource that independently certifies women-owned businesses. Their goal is to
facilitate the growth and development of women-owned businesses. By doing so, they provide
opportunities for business owners to gain new opportunities to work with larger corporations. This may
allow them to grow their businesses.
International Association of Women
The IAW focuses on providing opportunities for women entrepreneurs of different backgrounds and
fields to come together in a community to support each other. They accomplish their goals by providing
professional development programs, networking events, and opportunities for business promotion.2
Utilizing one or more of the resources above may help women entrepreneurs find the connections,
training, and opportunities to grow their business. This may help them to realize their dreams, no
matter if they are big or small.
Footnotes:
1 Women-owned business, U.S. Small Business Association, https://www.hult.edu/blog/women-in-
business-advantages-challenges-and-opportunities/
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27 Essential Resources for Women Small Business Owners, Legal Zoom,
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