Business Funding Resources for Women and Minorities
by Danny Brown on March 18th, 2008
Although there are a host of options available for small businesses and entrepreneurs to help with their finances, there seems to be fewer options for businesses that are run solely by women or minorities. While this doesn’t appear to be genuine prejudice, it does make things a little bit more difficult for these two groups, especially if you belong to one of them and you’re just starting out – some extra financial aid could go a long way.
However, there are more avenues available for financial help and funding for women and minorities in business, thanks to government agencies stepping in, as well as lenders that work with them.
Small Business Administration
One of the best options for any small-to-medium business owner has always been the Small Business Administration . This is just as true for women or minorities, and the SBA provides a great source of both financial help and advice in putting together business loans, proposals, which lenders to use, etc.
Minority Business Development Agency
Similar in structure and aim of the SBA, the Minority Business Development Agency , or MBDA, is targeted more at the minority-owned businesses. For anyone that falls into that category, the MBDA works with lenders throughout the country to offer you financial help that is relevant to your business. These include the Native American Business Development Centers, Minority Business Development Centers, and more.
Small Business Development Centers
In association with the SBA is the network of Small Business Development Centers . These can be found in every state across the US, and offer invaluable help and advice when it comes to starting up a small business. Once you have that behind you, then you can move onto the next step and look at either the SBA or MBDA for further help and financial backing.
Lending Services
As well as the government backed agencies like the SBA and MBDA, there are a few other options available for women and minorities looking for business funding. For example, certain lenders and financial institutes have dedicated services and advisors that deal solely with this area.
One such lender is Prosper.com , which can offer you business loans through a unique approach. Lenders actually bid to offer you the money you need – the lowest bid wins, and then you repay that lender over a three-year period. It’s an extremely useful way to get a short-term loan to help your fledgling business.
Non-profit Organizations
Another option open to you if you’re a minority or woman business owner are dedicated lenders and business advisory organizations, but from a non-profit viewpoint. The beauty of a non-profit company offering advice is that you know it will be generally impartial, as there’s nothing in it for them. Organizations such as the National Minority Business Council , the National Association of Women Business Owners and the National Urban League are all excellent sources of information and funding for minority and women-owned businesses.
