Women entrepreneurs are leading an exciting shift in the business landscape—two out of every ten US businesses are now owned by women, and they generate over $1.8 trillion in revenue annually. But despite their success, many female entrepreneurs run into obstacles when seeking funding for their companies. A lack of capital can easily tank a new startup, or prevent a sophomore business from scaling and expanding. Understanding your loan options can help level the playing field for you and your company.
Business startup loans for women are available through a variety of sources, including local business development centers, credit unions and online lenders. These loans are typically geared towards a specific type of financing need, such as purchasing equipment or covering operating expenses. Additionally, some of these lenders can offer a more flexible credit scoring and collateral requirements than traditional banks.
Another option for women business owners is to apply for a grant. Grants are different than loans because you don’t have to pay them back, but they can also come with stricter qualification and application requirements.
Regardless of your preferred financing method, it’s important for all small business owners to seek out any opportunity to increase their funding options. Reaching out to a local business development center or chamber of commerce, or networking with fellow female entrepreneurs in your industry, can be a great way to learn about other funding opportunities you might be missing. Additionally, you can check out sites like GrantWatch to filter by the type of funding your company needs. women business loans