Tools for Women-Owned Businesses

Women-owned small businesses are vital to the US economy as well as the health of local communities. In fact, women are founding businesses at double the national rate. That means there are a lot of resources out there to help all you women entrepreneurs achieve your dreams!

Small Business Majority, Accion Opportunity Fund, and women’s business organizations across the country hosted a Women’s Small Business Month webinar for women entrepreneurs. Featured speakers include Felena Hanson, founder of HeraHub, and Dina Grossman, Co-Owner of Spinning J. Check out this webinar that provides education and resources on issues impacting women entrepreneurs, including access to capital, marketing and building a scalable business.

 

 

There are a number of organizations that seek to specifically help women-owned businesses out. In this article, we’ll take a look at the programs offered by the Small Business Majority, Accion Opportunity Fund, and the government. Check out some of the resources they offer that can help your business succeed!

Small Business Majority

Small Business Majority is an education and advocacy organization founded and run by small business owners. They have nine locations across the country and offer programs to help women-owned businesses get financing, business education, and more. They also publish the Small Business Monthly, which focuses on vital day-to-day issues affecting small businesses, including access to funding, workforce, healthcare, taxes, and other key issues.

Here’s a quick look at a couple of the programs they offer for women entrepreneurs – click on the links for more detailed info!

• In-Person and Online Events: Small Business Majority offers a variety of presentations in both in-person and online formats to assist business owners and entrepreneurs, including women, on current issues and policy considerations in the world of business. Topics include access to capital, healthcare, retirement/asset building, and workforce/employment issues. Visit here to learn about upcoming events.
• Venturize.org: Venturize, a free resource hub managed by Small Business Majority, helps small business entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape, which can be complicated and tough for new entrepreneurs to break into, by offering unbiased education and resources. The portal helps women entrepreneurs connect with funding sources and programs so they can get the capital they need to get started or grow.

Accion Opportunity Fund

Accion Opportunity Fund supports small business owners during every phase of the entrepreneurial process. One important focus of AOF is to connect small business owners with needed funding to get their businesses off the ground. AOF’s lending arm Opportunity Fund provides funding in the form of microloans; which are often easier for small business owners to qualify for than traditional bank loans. These microloan programs have enabled thousands of new business owners to take the plunge as CEO of their own small companies. In particular, AOF does a lot of work with women-owned businesses and minority-owned businesses, which often have a harder time getting funding than other startups.

AOF also provides business resources, education, and workshops and events to its entrepreneurs. AOF supports all small businesses but is invested in expanding, supporting, and funding the role of women, veterans, and minority groups in the entrepreneurial field.

Government Programs

The federal government offers some programs aimed at supporting small businesses. Some of the most important programs are the set-aside programs, in which the government dedicates a certain percentage of its contracts to small, private businesses. Some of those programs are specifically aimed at minority- and women-owned businesses.

Who Runs The World?

Women entrepreneurs are the key drivers of US entrepreneurship today. Women are starting up businesses at two times the national rate. And many of these women-owned businesses are headed by women of color. In fact, in recent years, the number of businesses led by women of color has grown by up to 300%.

With a plethora of tools and resources available to become an entrepreneur, it’s never been easier to start your own business. So if you’re on the fence, know there is plenty of help to get you started. And if you feel so inclined, take the plunge and start your own business today!