Useful Resources for Every Women Entrepreneur to Have at Their Fingertips

Women's entrepreneurship is booming. According to the Center for Women's Business Research, the number of women-owned businesses in this country grew at twice the rate of all firms between 1997 and 2002, jumping 14 percent to 6.2 million. Chances are that you know a women entrepreneur, if you aren't one yourself!

Perhaps you have thought about starting a business - but you would like some support in doing so. Well there is plenty of support available for you. There are mentors available and classes that you can take. Many are available at no charge to you. So this could be the perfect time for you to get started on owning your own business!

Being a entrepreneur is challenging - but very exciting. Many women choose to be entrepreneurs in hopes of balancing their work life with their family life, and also to have more control over their career growth. Here are some resources that a women entrepreneur may find quite useful, whether their business is in start-up phase, or if they have been in business for quite some time.

Ladies Who Launch http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/

This is an organization that has events and programs to help women start their own business. There are lots of great inspiring stories about women entrepreneurs at their website. They have an excellent email newsletter that shares stories of women entrepreneurs and how they succeed. There is also a mentoring program. There have been events in many major cities in the United States and parts of Canada - including New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia.

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) http://www.nawbo.org/

This is a membership organization for women business owners. Through NAWBO women entrepreneurs can network with other women entrepreneurs, join the Speakers Bureau, participate online in forums for women business owners, have access to research conducted by the Center for Women's Business Research and use the NAWBO online membership directory.

SBA Online Women's Business Center http://www.onlinewbc.gov/

The United States Small Business Administration Office of Women's Business Ownership has lots of resources for the female entrepreneur. Visit here http://www.onlinewbc.gov/wbc.pdf to find a center in your state that can help you. The centers provide business training, business counseling and mentoring to help you through the process of starting and running your own business successfully.

Mompreneurs http://www.mompreneursonline.com/

This is a website for women entrepreneurs, especially mothers who are entrepreneurs. There is a resource center and a message board and other mompreneurs available for mentor relationships. There is also a Mompreneurs book available for purchase.