Resources for Women in Business

Female entrepreneurs are a thriving part of the commerce community around the world. Whether you're exploring options to start a business, you want to improve a business that already exists, you need to apply for a business loan, or you are searching for government contracting opportunities, there are many resources that can help you achieve your goals. Many groups are committed to advocating on the behalf of both women and minorities in business, striving to create economic opportunities. Female business owners can also tap into a vast network of support and services to secure venture capital and make connections with mentors.

Although gender inequality issues persist, more and more women are successfully navigating the business world in America. Female small-business owners have become a force to be reckoned with, and this especially goes for women between the ages of 35 and 64. With many grants earmarked specifically for female small-business owners, the business climate and support network for women today is largely positive. Instead of dreaming of your own business, make it a reality with these informational resources.

Women's Business Resources

• American Indian and Alaskan Women-Owned Businesses Fact Sheet: These facts show the demographics of Native American and Alaskan women-owned businesses in America.
• Get the Facts on Female Business Owners: Nearly all of the women-owned businesses in America are considered small businesses.
• Expanding Opportunities for Women in Business: Higher levels of education and experience are contributing to higher earnings for women.
• The State of Women-Owned Businesses: Between 2007 and 2018, growth in women-owned businesses in America has been consistently strong.
• For Women-Owned Small Businesses: Women owning their own businesses may qualify for special government funding.
• Equity and Parity for All: This article looks back at the passage of legislation that allowed women to take out their own business loans.
• Breaking Into Real Estate: More women than men work in the real estate industry, a popular field for many women looking to strike out on their own.
• Center for Women and Enterprise Self-Assessment Tool: Use this assessment tool to explore your future as a business owner and to learn about the steps you need to take.
• Ten Grants You Need to Know About for Your Woman-Owned Business or Organization: Explore grants as a way to fund your business venture, including some private grants that target female entrepreneurs.
• Not Only Shattering the Glass Ceiling But Shattering the Sky: Learn about the experiences of astronomer Nancy G. Roman as she broke ground in the scientific community.
• Insights Into Black Women Who Own Businesses: Black female business owners are another group making waves in the small-business community.
• 16 Popular Small-Business Ideas for Female Entrepreneurs: A woman aspiring to become a business owner might pursue one of these ideas.
• Getting More Women Into the C-Suite Means Keeping Them in the Talent Pipeline: At the most senior levels of business, women are not equally represented, even though they make up almost 60 percent of all college graduates in the United States.
• Women in Business: Advantages, Challenges, and Opportunities: Business trends are focusing on putting more women in leadership positions, but inequality issues still remain.
• How Women Are Rising in Business: Most of the women launching businesses are between the ages of 35 and 64.
• Women in Business Trends: Female ownership is rising for businesses in health, beauty, and fitness industries.
• Five Mistakes Women Make in Business: Female business owners are often held to a higher standard than men, necessitating care as they navigate the business world.
• Most Innovative Women: 100 Women Making Money, Creating Jobs, and Changing the World: Peruse this list of the most innovative women in business.
• Behind the Numbers: The State of Women-Owned Businesses: Data indicate that women are slightly more likely to launch a new business than men are.
• A List of Tools and Resources for Women in Business: These resources help address many of the unknowns that female business owners face.

How to Start a Business

• How to Choose a Business to Start: Choosing your business is the first crucial step in starting a new venture.
• The Ultimate Guide to How to Start an Online Business: This guide will help you launch an online business.
• How to Start a Business: A Small-Business Checklist: Your business idea is the seed that you need to nurture into a thriving enterprise.
• How to Start a Business: Learn how to refine a business idea to make it a reality.
• Want to Start a Business? Just Do It! Successful business owners chase their dreams instead of allowing fear and uncertainty to interfere.

Write Your Business Plan

• Writing a Business Plan: A business plan is the outline of what you plan to do and how.
• Practical Guide to Writing a Business Plan: If you want to approach investors for funding, you'll need a business plan.
• The Elements of a Business Plan: First Steps for New Entrepreneurs: A complete business plan outlines the purpose of a business and its processes.
• Writing the Business Plan: A business plan should also outline anticipated needs of a business and how they will be met.
• Business Plan Development: Include your business idea, any applicable education and experience you have, a financial statement, and marketing information in a business plan.

Business Finances

• Types and Sources of Financing for Start-Up Businesses: Funding for a business might come from investments, personal savings, personal or business loans, venture capital, or home equity loans.
• Five Ways to Separate Your Personal and Business Finances: Keeping personal and business finances separate is crucial for protecting your credit and assets.
• Managing Your Small Business Finances: Careful bookkeeping helps you track performance, plan for expenditures, maintain a budget, and manage your payroll.
• A Simple Start to Managing Your Business Finances: Managing business finances means recording earnings and expenses and using this information to make decisions about future business actions.
• Business Finance Basics: A profit and loss statement is a document that shows how and where income comes into the business and exits the business.

Miscellaneous Business Resources

• Five Tips for Starting a Successful Business: If you see an opportunity for starting a business, you should be ready to act quickly.
• Five Tips for Starting a Business: One of the first decisions a business owner needs to make is the structure of the business: sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation.
• Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals: Writing successful grant proposals can be key to getting the funding you need.
• Startup Business Resources: Help for anyone looking to start a business.
• Start Smart: Use this guide to help you launch a new business.
• Startup Business Tax Tips: Knowing how to manage income taxes for a new business will be a hurdle to navigate.