Women-owned businesses account for some 30 percent of all businesses in the United States and represent approximately 800,000 new start-ups per year and account for close to 55 percent of new start-ups. There are considerable resources available to help women in business especially in the areas of financing and business planning. These resources are in both the public and private domains.

A good place to start is the Small Business Administration (SBA). They have considerable resources for women owned businesses. They guarantee loans and provide additional services to help in the search for funding. To apply for a loan, you’ll need a business plan, a credit report and some start-up capital.

Here are some prime funding sources for women owned businesses: