One of the cornerstones of a healthy community is a vibrant and diverse small business sector. The federal and state governments offer a variety of programs and support for women owned small businesses.
Use these resources to help to start of expand your business
Learn More about SBA Women's Business Centerssee here
Women's Business Centers (WBCs) stand for a nationwide network of nearly 100 instructional centers throughout the United States and its territories, which are created to help women in beginning and growing small companies. WBCs seek to "level the playing field" for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in business world.
SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) oversees the WBC network, which provides entrepreneurs (specifically women who are economically or socially disadvantaged) comprehensive training and counseling on a range of topics in numerous languages.
Find a WBC Near You
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Many of the SBA programs offering Small Business Grants, Loan Programs and Counseling Programs for women are offered through universities and centers.
Small Business Administration HUBZone Program
The Historically Underutilized Business Zones Empowerment Contracting Program provides federal contracting assistance to eligible small businesses located in underutilized business zones to improve their employment opportunities, investments, and their area's economic development.
SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loans
Disaster loans can be utilized for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector disaster losses, and are available to all types of business, instead of being restricted to small businesses alone.
HUBZone Certification Program Webinar
This video explains the basics of the HUBZone certification program for small business federal contractors.
HUBZone certification allows certain small businesses to compete for set-aside contracts aimed at spurring investment in low median income or high unemployment areas.
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program Webinar
This video explains how the SBA's 8(a) Program works, its eligibility requirements, technical assistance available to small disadvantaged businesses through the program and common myths about the program.
Local Assistance from the Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration has many local offices and resource partners that counsel, mentor and train small business owners and entrepreneurs.
These nearby offices and online assistance can help your business start up, succeed and grow. This short video provides a good introduction to services near you.
Small Business Administration Resources for Veterans
The Small Business Administration offers various resources for veterans interested in starting, financing or growing their businesses.
Supporting Black-Owned Business
We've read stats showing that Blacks have a buying power of $1.2 Trillion dollars and that Black women are starting businesses at a faster rate than any other group, but is this enough to change the economic inequalities that plague Black neighborhoods?
SCORE Services to Small Business - An Introduction
In an excerpt from a 2010 interview the SCORE CEO discusses its counseling and workshops offerings to small businesses.
The Creative Role That One CDFI Plays in Impact Investing
Antony Bugg-Levine, CEO of the Community Development Financial Institution Nonprofit Finance Fund, manages $80 million of impact investments. He is also the author of Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference.
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Featured Government Grant Resources
How The Government Can Help Your Small Business
The United States Small Business Administration, otherwise known as SBA, is a United States government agency that was established on the 30th day of July, 1953.
What Are Opportunity Zones
Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool that allows people to invest in distressed areas in the United States.
TheSocial Enterprise Law Association (SELA), founded by Bea Hinton and Thea Sebastian, is astudent-led organization at Harvard Law School designed to connecting the rift between the private and public sectors, while offeringa space for students to transform their ideas into initiatives by applying their newfound legal skills to build meaningful careers.
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Although women own 38% of all businesses in the U.S., according to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, they often face obstacles when obtaining financing. In 2022, 25% of women-owned businesses were rejected for a loan, compared to 19% of male-owned businesses.
While getting a business loan can be difficult since most require strong personal and business credit scores, reliable cash flow and at least two years in business, there are alternatives available to obtain the cash you need.
If you applied for a business loan but were denied, you're not alone. According to the 2024 Report on Employer Firms, 22 percent of employer firms were denied business loans in the past 12 months. Another 28 percent were only partially approved.
Yes!!We've been offering business resources and grants to women in all 50 states (and Canada) since 1998. We have three different $10,000 Amber Grant winners EVERY month... Plus at the end of the year, each Amber Grant winner for that year is eligible for an additional $25,000 grant!
SBA loans are available to both men and women entrepreneurs. But women tend to seek funding at lower rates than their male counterparts due to the fear of getting rejected for the funds.
Microloans. Microloans are loans of up to $50,000 that can help startups tackle small funding needs. Because they are geared toward startup businesses, they may not have revenue requirements to apply. Microloans are available from the SBA, as well as other government, nonprofit and peer-to-peer agencies.
The most common reasons SBA loans are denied are poor credit, too much existing debt, or insufficient collateral. Other reasons include: Prior bankruptcy. Negative taxable income.
Thanks to the wide range of permitted loan uses, an SBA Express loan is financing that's easy to approve and is likely perfect for your startup's needs.
Common reasons for loan rejection are not having a long track record in business, deteriorating business conditions in the industry where you operate and poor cash flow. If the lender is concerned about something you can control, correcting the situation and then reapplying may be the best course of action.
Income and the amount of debt you already have can also be reasons a lender may reject your loan application. You can improve your chances of getting approved by increasing your credit score, getting a co-signer, or providing collateral.
SBA-qualified lenders usually set their own criteria when assessing your eligibility. Most lenders will require a minimum FICO score of 620 or higher for their SBA Loans.
Yes!Our monthly $10,000 Start-Up Grant was designed for women just like you. We give this grant to pre-revenue businesses as well as businesses that have earned less than $10,000 in revenue.
Sponsored by Hidden Star, a nonprofit that offers startup assistance to low-income entrepreneurs, Galaxy Grants provide $2,750 awards to women- and minority-owned businesses. You'll receive a matching award if you refer a friend and they win a grant.
Atomic grant for women's small business is awarded to women to give them the financial support they need to pursue and advance their passion projects. All women aged 21 and above are eligible to apply to participate, all they need to do is fill out an application.
Women-owned small businesses can also take advantage of SBA loan programs. Our partners offer advice and counseling to help choose the right path for your company.
Women and gender nonbinary business owners are eligible for the same loans as everyone else. Lenders can't discriminate against loan applicants based on gender.
SBA-qualified lenders usually set their own criteria when assessing your eligibility. Most lenders will require a minimum FICO score of 620 or higher for their SBA Loans.
Women's Business Ownership Act changed history for women entrepreneurs. The Women's Business Ownership Act (WBOA) of 1988 prohibited state laws that required women to secure a male relative as their co-signer on business loans.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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