10+ Business Resources for Women Entrepreneurs

Last Updated on December 27, 2022 by Selina Parker

No question that starting and running a business as a woman can be challenging. There are many challenges that women entrepreneurs face daily, from getting financing to expanding their businesses. However, there are also many resources available to help them succeed.

This article will discuss the top 13 business resources for women entrepreneurs. These resources will help small business owners like you start and grow your business and make it thrive!

Women-owned small businesses face many unique challenges. They often have difficulty accessing financing in the business world, and they may not have the same networks as their male counterparts. Additionally, they may also face gender inequality and discrimination. However, many resources are available to help them overcome these challenges and succeed.

Top Resources for Women Business Owners

1. Small Business Administration

The first business resource for women entrepreneurs is the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership. The SBA provides financing, training, and resources to small businesses. They also have a Women’s Business Ownership Center program that offers assistance specifically to women.

2. Association of Women’s Business Centers

The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC), a nonprofit dedicated to assisting and promoting women-owned businesses, works to help women’s organizations by assisting and promoting Women’s Business Centers across the United States.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has about 100 Women’s Business Centers across the country, where women may get training, mentoring, and more. AWBC also organizes gatherings and webinars to promote networking and learning.

3. Women Entrepreneurs

The Entrepreneur magazine is a timely source of current business trends, information, and news. Women Entrepreneur is their internet extension that covers issues impacting female entrepreneurs.

Unfortunately, even though women own a higher percentage of businesses than males, they are still disadvantaged compared to male-owned firms. This information can assist you in navigating the nuances of running a woman-owned business, such as the fact that it’s more difficult to obtain traditional loans and other funding (for example, grants and sponsorships).

4. Mompreneur Center

Entrepreneur Magazine’s website for “mompreneurs” is another fantastic place to go. It is a collection of articles on various subjects, including work-life balance, business ideas, and success stories from mothers making their own entrepreneurial aspirations come true.

Starting your own business might allow you to work from home or be more flexible with family time, which is really useful! However, it’s not something that will be taught in school or at a regular workplace. It’s tough to balance children with a business, and this is an excellent resource for tips on how to make everything work.

5. The Women’s Venture Fund

The organization aims to help people in underrepresented and urban areas start their own businesses. The Women’s Venture Fund supports diversity in business by offering both funding and business advice to women entrepreneurs in urban areas.

Women-owned firms are already at a disadvantage compared to male-owned businesses, and the gap is huge in urban and minority-dominated regions. The Women’s Venture Fund provides helpful information on available funding and possibilities in your region.

6. Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Certification as a women-owned company can help small businesses compete for contracts and funding. The Women’s Business Enterprise (WBENC) certifies women business owners so they may take advantage of expanded commercial opportunities. This organization has a nationwide presence and a wealth of valuable contacts to draw on.

You may use their website to enroll and obtain that certification, which can assist you in obtaining grants and other opportunities.

7. National Organization of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

The National Organization of Women Business Owners offers articles, resources, and links through its online database. It is typically advised by female entrepreneurs for other female entrepreneurs, so their experiences on the front lines can give you a lot of insight into what you’ll need to do to succeed in your business.

There are a number of websites that provide bespoke content, such as essays or reports. However, these services are entirely free but benefit from in-person events and other goodies.

8. American Business Women’s Association (ABWA)

The American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) offers coaching, training, and networking opportunities. They have a blog that offers free links to news, trends, social media updates, and job ads. The group is dedicated to increasing the number of female CEOs, addressing social issues that disproportionately impact women, and supporting female entrepreneurs.

This is an excellent location to learn how to use real-world, actionable business skills. They want all national members to master business abilities like public speaking, organizing a meeting, marketing, or developing a business plan by participating in a local ABWA chapter in their area.

Each month, the company hosts an all-staff meeting. According to their website, more than “15,000 business/networking meetings are hosted each year in more than 300 cities across the United States.”

You may also pay a small fee to attend in-person seminars and networking events in addition to the free information.

9. Women’s Home Business

Women’s Home Business aggregates current events relevant to women who wish to start a home-based business. For the female work-at-home entrepreneur, the website also features a variety of themes, from success stories to home business suggestions to employment advice. The website also has pointers to several woman-owned business ideas.

10. National Association for Female Executives

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) serves as a promoter and advocate for women in executive roles, including women who own and run enterprises.

Since its inception in 1972, the NAFE has provided education, networking, and advocacy. Each year, the organization holds events to honor organizations that “demonstrate effectiveness in promoting women to senior levels” and individual executives who have shown remarkable achievement.

11. National Women’s Business Council

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a nonpartisan federal advisory council that provides advice and recommendations to Congress, the SBA, and other government agencies on behalf of improving women-owned companies’ economic success. For example, the organization’s roundtables and webinars provide guidance and information on various topics.

12. Women Impacting Public Policy

Women’s Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a nonpartisan national public policy organization founded in 2001, advocates on behalf of women-owned businesses at the national level.

WIPP also promotes women’s business education on policy and legislative matters to assist them in becoming better advocates in their communities, including on topics such as healthcare, procurement rules, taxes, and more. In addition to providing a variety of networking, education, and celebration initiatives dedicated to honoring female entrepreneurs, the national group creates a diversified program.

13. The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)

The objective of WBDC is to increase the economy by assisting women-owned firms in growing. They provide extra support to women of color, low- to moderate-income females, and female veterans in addition to being woman-centered.

Bottomline

Business development resources are essential to every entrepreneur. These are just some of the resources available to empower women entrepreneurs and grow their businesses. You can achieve anything you set your mind to as a woman entrepreneur with the right resources. Do your research and take advantage of all the resources to help make your business a success!

What resources have been most helpful in growing your business? Share with us in the comments below!