As women entrepreneurs, it is always best to have a solid network of like-minded individuals going through the same sort of ups and downs. A good network, especially for women entrepreneurs, gives women the guidance and partnerships necessary to make their business successful no matter what the size. As the old adage goes, "It's not what you know. It’s who you know.”
Where does a woman entrepreneur find such networks? Let’s start with a list of top 5 networks for women entrepreneurs and business owners.
1. Fundid
Fundid is on a mission to get women owned business the capital they need to grow so that we can all close the business wealth gap. While 42% of business in the US are owned by women, they only account for 4% of revenue generated by private businesses. We spend our time at Fundid thinking about what the world would look like if women also generated 42% of revenue and how to get them the capital they need to make that happen. Fundid is a challenger business bank, business lender, and grant marketplace built from the feedback of women entrepreneurs.
This network is also free to join as long as a few qualifications are met. The first requirement is that the woman business owner must own any percentage of the company they are trying to build, and be actively part of company operations. The second requirement is that the woman business owner must have either at least 3 employees in the business or be making $500k in revenue.
2. National Association for Women Business Owners
The National Association for Women Business Owners is the largest network for women entrepreneurs, with over 10 million joined across the United States. The main goal of this network is to connect women entrepreneurs everywhere in the U.S. and provide them with access to tools and business practices. According to forafinancial.com, they charge a one-time fee of $100 to join, and then another $20 to $30 per month depending on the level of membership within the network. Additionally, they also provide tools such as Constant Contact, access to their eLearning series, and discounts on various hotels and UPS services.
3. The American Business Women's Association
The American Business Women's Association seeks to help women in various fields become connected to one another both professionally and personally. They host over 5,000 networking meetings in addition to their webinars and online courses across 300 cities in the U.S. Additionally, they have an annual $115 membership fee to join, along with any additional fee that each chapter may charge. The American Business Women's Association also has benefits including discounts on insurance, car rentals, access to career centers and resume services, and career coaching. They also have a job posting board.
4. National Association for Female Executives
The National Association for Female Executives is a network that is, as stated on forafinancial.com, "inclusive of all female business professionals.” They have 36 chapters across the United States, all of which provide networking opportunities, education, and public advocacy of women business professionals. Their annual membership is just $39, and once a year they host a Leadership Summit that provides women business owners and professionals the opportunity to build connections and make their businesses better.
5. Ladies America
This network has their chief motto as "Women Helping Women", and their biggest benefit is their mentorship program. This allows mentors to pair up with women who seek to make their businesses a success. Ladies America was established in 2005 and has gained over 5,000 top-tier women business professionals in their chosen industry. They have only 7 total business chapters in major cities such as New York City, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Nashville, etc. They have monthly social events and seminars designed to help women achieve success in their chosen fields of business.
These are only 5 examples of private networks meant for women entrepreneurs and business owners. If you are a woman in the world of business looking for support to help your company grow, take a look at some of these networks today!
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