Closely held businesses face many problems related to their size, capital, and capability, and for women-owned closely held 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 closely held businesses face and have positioned themselves as resources to help provide assistance. Below are a few resources women-owned closely held 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.1
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.1
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.2
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/
27 Essential Resources for Women Small Business Owners, Legal Zoom, https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/7-essential-resources-for-women-small-business-owners
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