Resources for Women-Owned Businesses

Women are a formidable force in the US business world, partly due to the ability to form alliances and support one another. Having the right resources readily available can also be a big part of assisting in the road to success. The following are helpful resources to give women the leg up they may need in order to start, grow, and expand their businesses into successful enterprises.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

• Office of Women’s Business Ownership - helps women entrepreneurs through programs including counseling, federal contracts, business training, and loans.

• Women’s Business Centers - national network of 100+ educational centers throughout the US; designed for assisting women who want to start or grow small businesses.

• Contracting Assistance Programs

• SBA 8(a) Business Development Program for Federal Contracting Assistance

• Woman-Owned Business Cerification

US Women’s Chamber of Commerce - Assists women in starting and building successful businesses and careers, receiving government contracts, growing as leaders, and preparing for a secure retirement.

• Women’s Economic Priorities - highlights American women’s contributions to the country, outlines the current economic condition, and reviews the federal budget and policies vital to support Women’s Economic Priorities

• Meetings & Events

• News

San Antonio Women’s Business Center - offers business accelerator programs for small business contractors, artist entrepreneurs, and women-owned businesses; offers comprehensive business training and mentorship programs as well as business plan competitions, pitch events, and other special programs throughout the year.

• Women’s Business Accelerator - 8-week program where participants take part in a combination of expert led workshops, one-on-one meetings with mentors, and peer-to-peer discussions all designed to help them improve their business processes and set a foundation for growth.

• InnovateHER - national prize competition aimed at unearthing innovative products and services that impact and empower the lives of women and families.

• Business Opportunity Academy - annual accelerator program for small business contractors operating in San Antonio; a training and experience platform that focuses on traditionally under-served communities (i.e. small, minority, women, veteran, disabled) individual business enterprises. Offered to companies with one or more years in business and at least one small or minority business certification.

• Art Tank - business accelerator designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities that artist entrepreneurs face. In the 8 week program, participants learn how to create and maintain a sustainable business venture based on their artistic talents.

National Women’s Business Council

• Resources – including training, education, technical assistance, business accelerators, alternative lenders, and more

• Research - research reports on topics such as Women Business Ownership and fact sheets covering gender differences in US business ownership, census results, and more.

National Association of Women in Construction

• Education Resources – Conferences, Apprenticeships, Scholarships, and other resources

• Career Center - offers construction companies, recruiters, and hiring managers a way to communicate job openings to women in various fields of the construction industry.

• Membership

National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses (NAWRB)

• NAWRB Resource Center

• Corporate Partnerships

National Association of Women Business Ownership

• Home

• Educational Resources

• Memberships

Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) - the largest certifier of US women-owned businesses and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

• Certification

• Programming, Networking, and Events

• Resources

Women’s Presidents’ Organization (WPO) - non-profit membership organization for women presidents, CEOs, and managing directors of privately held, multi-million-dollar companies.

• Organization Information

• Memberships

• News & Events