Accountability to growth comes with business building.

Women-Owned Small Business Resources

The resources, information and links provided are to assist women with starting or growing their small business. According to The 2019 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report conducted by American Express, The share women-owned businesses represent of all businesses has skyrocketed from a mere 4.6% in 1972 to 42% in 2019. Growth in share of the total private sector workforce and total revenue has not kept pace at 8% and 4.3% respectively.

According to The American Express Report: As of 2019, women of color account for 50% of all women owned businesses. An estimated 6,417,400 women-of color-owned businesses employ 2,389,500 people (25% of total women-owned businesses’ employment) and generate $422.5 billion in revenue (23% of total women owned businesses’ revenue).

Federal Resources For Women-Owned Small Businesses

Women and Small Business– resources, programs and guides dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs from the SBA
Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program– government contracts for industries where women-owned small businesses are underrepresented
Contracts for Women-Owned Small Businesses– eligibility requirements, checklist and guidance from the GSA to take advantage of women-owned small business programs
Women’s Business Center– directory of 122 Women’s Business Centers throughout the U.S., funded by the SBA and offering small business assistance to women entrepreneurs

List In Our Digital Small Business Directory

Financial Resources For Women-Owned Small Businesses

Grants

Women Business Owners – guide from American Express on finding and applying to grants
Women – listing of opportunities for women across industries
Amber Grant– grants for women entrepreneurs launched by WomensNet
Eileen Fisher – grants for women with focus in the areas of environmental justice & local communities
Girl Boss– biannual grant for female entrepreneurs pursuing creative endeavors
Halstead Grant– grants for emerging silver jewelry artists
Open Meadows– grants designed and implemented by women and girls that promote gender, racial, and economic justice

Other Resources

eWomen Network, Inc. – helping women and their businesses achieve, succeed and thrive in the new economy through a loyal, dedicated community of women-owned businesses, corporate professionals and entrepreneurs
Forbes Women – articles on work, life, balance, career, leadership, relationships, health, style, beauty, and personal finance
Freelance Mom – helps members locate freelance work from home jobs, providing home business ideas, and sharing Internet marketing strategies to help working moms make smart decisions in business
Mompreneur– teaches mom entrepreneurs how to manage time, generate business ideas, balance business and family, and grow their businesses
WomenOwned.com – business tools and resources to help small businesses profit, connect and grow
Women Entrepreneur– online magazine that provides advice from leading female experts
Women in Business– collection of TED Talks on the topic of women in business
Women on Business – news and information women need to be successful in the business
Women Home Business – trending topics pertinent to women entrepreneurs who own or want to start up home-based businesses

Learn More About TED Speaker

Achenyo Idachaba is the head of MitiMeth, a Nigeria-based company that makes handicrafts from aquatic weeds and other agro-waste.

Why you should listen

In 2009, Achenyo Idachaba bid her corporate career in the United States goodbye and relocated to Nigeria to start a new chapter as a social entrepreneur. She founded Greennovative Chain, which provided research and advocacy services in climate change mitigation, and later founded MitiMeth, a for-profit social enterprise based in Ibadan, Nigeria, which she considers a tangible expression of her research advice.

MitiMeth creates eco-friendly handicrafts like home décor and personal accessories from weeds prevalent on Nigeria’s waterways.