The SBA has made women business owners a high priority. We are working to ensure that women entrepreneurs know the range of programs and publications offered by the SBA and its partner organizations to train, counsel, advise and assist entrepreneurs throughout their business careers, from start-up to expansion.

The Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) offers current and potential women business owners access to a variety of services and resources, including prebusiness workshops, technical, financial and management information, and training conferences on exporting, access to capital and selling to the federal government.

Through the national network of SBA women's business ownership representatives, the growing number of women business owners can readily find valuable information and skill building opportunities.

Access to Capital

OWBO sponsors "Access to Capital" conferences throughout the country; markets the SBA guaranteed loan programs including the Small loan programs including the Small Loan Incentive, which targets small businesses searching for $50,000 or less; and has developed a director, "Alternative Financing Sources," for distribution to women business owners who are seeking new sources of capital.

For businesses needing smaller amounts of capital, the SBA has the Microloan Program that emphasizes small loans up to a maximum of $25,000. Although this is not yet available in every state, we are optimistic that it will soon be expanding.

Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training

OWBO has a national mentoring program, the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET), available in all 50 states. This program links established women business owners with entrepreneurs whose businesses are ready to grow. Through the year-long, one-on-one mentor relationship, successful women entrepreneurs pass on knowledge, skills, information, inspiration and support.

Demonstration Project Program
for Women Business Owners

The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 and the Women's Business Development Act of 1991 authorized the SBA to establish centers to provide long-term training and counseling to women interested in starting or expanding a business. Through public-private partnerships, 26 model centers are currently operating throughout the country. These centers offer a wide range of entrepreneurial training and assistance.

Selling to the Federal Government

Selling to the federal government can be a large market niche for many small businesses, but it is not an easy arena to enter. The federal government spends nearly $200 billion yearly on a wide range of products and services, from toothbrushes, computers and meals to machinery, utensils and office supplies. In 1980, women owned more than 26 percent of the sole proprietorships in this country, yet less than one-half of 1 percent of government contracts were awarded to women. By 1988, women owned 31 percent of all sole proprietorships and received a record $1.9 billion, or 1.2 percent, of all federal contract awards. In other words, women's share of federal contracts more than doubled during the 1980s, but it is still a small percentage of what it should be.

OWBO sponsors conferences to train women on how to do business with the federal government; encourages women business owners to register on the Procurement Automated Source System (PASS), which lists potential small business suppliers for federal agencies and prime contractors; and refers women business owners to SBA procurement personnel who can assist them in the procedures of selling to the federal government. Each year, OWBO negotiates women-owned procurement goals with each federal department and agency, encouraging procurement officials to seek out women-owned firms to provide the goods and services they need.

Opportunities in the Global Marketplace

Together with SBA's Office of International Trade, we offer training and resources for women entrepreneurs considering expanding their businesses beyond domestic borders. "The world is your market." That's the message the Small Business Administration is sending to enterprising business owners. Exporting means big benefits for small businesses, but unfortunately, few small businesses--especially women-owned ventures--are taking advantage of international opportunities. The expanding world market offers many new opportunities to U.S. businesses. To prepare women entrepreneurs for the global marketplace, we are hosting training conferences, "Women Going International," around the country. Topics include export financing, legal considerations, strategic marketing and a focus on service related businesses.

Resource Partners

Our resource partners include:

The Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) which provide counseling, training and research assistance for all aspects of small business management.

The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), that has over 13,000 volunteer counselors nationwide leading business workshops and providing one-on-one business counseling in local and regional SBA offices.

The Small Business Institutes (SBIs), located on college and university campuses, that conduct market research and offer hands-on counseling for ongoing businesses.

General Information

Women-owned businesses are increasing in number, range, diversity and earning power. The latest statistics released by the U.S. Bureau of Census show that women owned about 32 percent of all U.S. companies in 1987. As of 2000, nearly half of U.S. companies are owned by women.

As women business owners expand their companies, they become increasingly important to the local, regional and national economies. The figures are mounting, both in receipts from women-owned companies and in numbers of women entrepreneurs, providing definition to the substantial economic impact of women business owners.

Facts and Figures About Women Owned Businesses

* Between 1982 and 1987, the number of women-owned businesses rose from 2.6 million to more than four million, an increase of almost 58 percent. This rate of growth is more than four times the 14 percent rate for all businesses. (U.S. Census Bureau statistics)

* The total receipts of women-owned businesses nearly tripled over this same time period, rising from $98.3 billion in 1982 to $278.1 billion in 1987. As of 1987, women-owned businesses accounted for roughly 30 percent of all U.S. businesses and about 13.9 percent of total U.S. business receipts.

* Between 1982 and 1987, women-owned businesses demonstrated their growing importance as providers of jobs for American workers. The number of women-owned businesses with paid employees nearly doubled, rising from 311,662 businesses in 1982 to 618,198 businesses in 1987.

* As of 1987, women-owned businesses employed more than three million (3,102,685) American workers, more than twice the 1.3 million workers employed by women-owned businesses in 1982.

* The total receipts of women-owned businesses in the construction industry more than quadrupled between 1982 and 1987, rising from $4.6 billion to $20.3 billion.

* Between 1982 and 1987, the number of women-owned businesses in the manufacturing industry more than doubled, rising from 44,909 in 1982 to 93,960 in 1987. During this same time, total receipts for these businesses increased nearly sixfold, rising from $5.3 billion to $30.9 billion.

* In FY 1991, SBA approved 13 percent of all loans for a total of $376.7 million for women business owners.

How to Find Your Women's Representative

Through the national network of local SBA offices, a wide range of services and resources are available to you. Each SBA office has a women's business representative who can direct you to resources and provide guidance on starting and building a business.

To reach the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership in your area, consult the telephone directory under U.S. Government or call the Small Business Answer Desk at 1-8008-ASK-SBA or (202) 205-7064 (FAX). For the hearing impaired, the TDD number is (202) 205-7333. You may also write to U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Women's Business Ownership, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20416.

The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network actively supports the growth and development of all small businesses. There are special resources available for entrepreneurs who are women and/or a member of an ethnic minority group. See the links below for some of these resources.

Links for Women and Minorities in Business

http://www.uswomenschamber.com US Women's Chamber of Commerce
http://www.abwa.org American Business Women's Assoc.
http://www.fodreams.com Women In Business
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com Hispanic Business Magazine
http://www.mbda.gov Minority Business Development Agency
http://www.nfwbo.org National Federation For Women Business Owners
http://www.nmbc.org National Minority Business Council
http://www.oame.org Oregon Association of Minorities
http://www.onaben.org Oregon Native Americans
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/womeninbusiness Women's Business Ownership
http://www.onlinewbc.org SBA Online Women's Business Center
http://www.smallbusinesslearning.com Small Business Learning
http://www.fodreams.com Women In Business
http://www.mbnet.com Worldwide Minority Business Network
http://www.orwomenbiz.org/ Oregon Women Business Owners
http://www.orwomenbiz.org/newresource.htm Oregon related sites
http://www.awed.org American Woman's Econ. Devel. Corp.
http://www.awib.org Asian Women in Business
http://www.wwwomen.com/webring/webring_bizown.htm Websites for Women
http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P05_0000.asp Business Owner's Toolkit
http://www.blackpgs.com/aawboa.html African-American Women Biz Owners Assoc
http://www.onlinewbc.gov/ SBA Online Women's Business Center
http://www.womeninc.org/ Women Inc, the Business Resource for Women!
http://www.nfwbo.org/ Center for Women's Business Research
http://www.nawbophila.org/ National Association of Women Business Owners
http://www.nwboc.org/framedoc/mainbody.html National Women Biz Owners Corp
http://www.nwbc.gov/ National Women's Business Council
http://www.womanowned.com/ Small Biz Resources for Women Business Owners http://www.nfwbo.org/ National Foundation of Women Business Owners http:www.networkingmoms.com Information for working women
http://www.womanowned.com/ Small Business Resources for Women
http://www.hbwm.com/ Home-Based Working Mom's