James Brown may have been right when he said it’s a man’s world, but if current statistics are any indication, the rebuilding of the U.S. economy would be nothing without a woman. The number of women-owned firms continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms. With woman entrepreneurs elbowing their way into highly competitive industries, it takes more than a great product or service to ensure victory. Check out these resources for the home-based woman entrepreneur.
Ladies who Launch: Whether you’re in the early phase of launching your business or you’re a fully fledged home based business owner, Ladies Who Launch provides resources that run the gamut. Members benefit from vendor matching services to information on buying a business. You can also find local Ladies Who Launch members with its online community. Visit LadiesWhoLaunch.com for more information.
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce: A public policy organization
USWCC seeks to bring the issues of woman entrepreneurs to Congress. The organization also seeks to educate women about political and legal issues that are barrier to business growth. Visit USWCC.org for more.CRAVE: Launched in Chicago CRAVE is making its way to major cities across the United States. An organization that focuses on lifestyle for the young, sassy, vibrant city gal CRAVE connects these women through a series of online and in-person networking events. Many of the women who attend these soirées are local entrepreneurs with fully thriving businesses or looking to turn their vision into a reality.  Visit TheCRAVECompany.com for more.
WomenOwned.com: Need information on how to build a business plan or how to secure that much needed loan? WomenOwned.com provides information, tools, networking opportunities and advice about the best ways woman entrepreneurs can start or grow their enterprise. With 16,000 members it’s also a great community where you can share ideas and possibly gain new clients. For more visit WomenOwned.com.
Give Me 5: A partnership launched by Women Impacting Public Policy and American Express Open, Give Me 5 is a campaigned designed to increase the representation of woman-owned businesses that win government contracts. Members receive help with the Central Contractor Registration process, researching federal procurement opportunities, marketing to the federal government, certifications, among a slew of other services. Visit GiveMe5.com for more.