Small Business Loans for Women (2024)

Government Grants

Business Grants

Home Owner Programs

Federal Programs

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Grant and Loans for Women-Owned Small Businesses

One of the cornerstones of a healthy community is a vibrant and diverse small business sector. The federal and state governments offer a variety of programs and support for women owned small businesses.

Use these resources to help to start of expand your business

Learn More about SBA Women's Business Centerssee here

Women's Business Centers (WBCs) stand for a nationwide network of nearly 100 instructional centers throughout the United States and its territories, which are created to help women in beginning and growing small companies. WBCs seek to "level the playing field" for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in business world.

SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) oversees the WBC network, which provides entrepreneurs (specifically women who are economically or socially disadvantaged) comprehensive training and counseling on a range of topics in numerous languages.

Find a WBC Near You

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Many of the SBA programs offering Small Business Grants, Loan Programs and Counseling Programs for women are offered through universities and centers.

Small Business Administration HUBZone Program

The Historically Underutilized Business Zones Empowerment Contracting Program provides federal contracting assistance to eligible small businesses located in underutilized business zones to improve their employment opportunities, investments, and their area's economic development.

SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loans

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Disaster loans can be utilized for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector disaster losses, and are available to all types of business, instead of being restricted to small businesses alone.

HUBZone Certification Program Webinar

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This video explains the basics of the HUBZone certification program for small business federal contractors.

HUBZone certification allows certain small businesses to compete for set-aside contracts aimed at spurring investment in low median income or high unemployment areas.

SBA 8(a) Business Development Program Webinar

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This video explains how the SBA's 8(a) Program works, its eligibility requirements, technical assistance available to small disadvantaged businesses through the program and common myths about the program.

Local Assistance from the Small Business Administration

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The Small Business Administration has many local offices and resource partners that counsel, mentor and train small business owners and entrepreneurs.

These nearby offices and online assistance can help your business start up, succeed and grow. This short video provides a good introduction to services near you.

Small Business Administration Resources for Veterans

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The Small Business Administration offers various resources for veterans interested in starting, financing or growing their businesses.

Supporting Black-Owned Business

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We've read stats showing that Blacks have a buying power of $1.2 Trillion dollars and that Black women are starting businesses at a faster rate than any other group, but is this enough to change the economic inequalities that plague Black neighborhoods?

SCORE Services to Small Business - An Introduction

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In an excerpt from a 2010 interview the SCORE CEO discusses its counseling and workshops offerings to small businesses.

The Creative Role That One CDFI Plays in Impact Investing

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Antony Bugg-Levine, CEO of the Community Development Financial Institution Nonprofit Finance Fund, manages $80 million of impact investments. He is also the author of Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference.

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Featured Government Grant Resources

Community Development Credit Unions

A Community Development Credit Union, more commonly known as a CDCU, is a credit financial institution which owned and controlled by its members in an effort to sustain the ability of being able to provide a wide array of financial services.

Department of Agriculture: Value Added Producer Grants

The Value-Added Producer Grants program is geared towards helping the Independent Producers of Agricultural Commodities, Agriculture Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Ventures in developing techniques that would create marketing opportunities and establish business plans involving viable marketing opportunities that involve the production of bio-based products from agricultural commodities.

More Small Business Resources


Several British colleges and universities have embraced social entrepreneurship in their curriculum.Pathik Pathak at Southampton have introducedn interdisciplinary module in Social Enterprise, which is open to students of all year groups and across all disciplines.

Find SBA Assistance in Your Locale

Need Business Advice?

Learn How SCORE Can Help Your Business

Have an Idea?

Find Funding for Your Invention

Grant Scams?

Learn How to Identify and Avoid Grant Scams

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Small Business Loans for Women (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard for a woman to get a small business loan? ›

Women can get small business loans from the same sources other individuals seek small business financing from. This includes banks, credit unions, online lenders and any alternative lender or lending solution as long as they meet the lender's requirements.

Is it easier to get a loan as a woman-owned business? ›

Although women own 38% of all businesses in the U.S., according to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, they often face obstacles when obtaining financing. In 2022, 25% of women-owned businesses were rejected for a loan, compared to 19% of male-owned businesses.

What is the most you can get from a small business loan? ›

Small business loan amounts by loan type
LenderAverage small business loan amount
Short-term loans$5,000 to $750,000
Business line of creditUp to $1 million
Equipment financingUp to 80% to 100% of the value of purchased equipment
Invoice financing/invoice factoring70% to 90% of the amount invoiced
6 more rows
Apr 26, 2024

Is it hard to get a loan for a small business? ›

The level of difficulty a small business faces when applying for a loan depends on several factors, including its cash flow, time in business, credit score, business plan and desired loan amount. The better a small business is able to prove its ability to repay the loan, the easier it will be to get the loan.

What disqualifies you from a small business loan? ›

What Can Disqualify Someone from Getting an SBA Loan? While there are certain requirements for an SBA loan, there are also some individual and entity statuses that can potentially disqualify an SBA applicant. These can include: If your business is engaged in illegal activities, gambling, or multi-sales distribution.

What credit score is needed for a small business start up loan? ›

SBA-qualified lenders usually set their own criteria when assessing your eligibility. Most lenders will require a minimum FICO score of 620 or higher for their SBA Loans.

Do banks give loans to first time business owners? ›

Yes, banks do offer startup business loans, although not every bank will accept new businesses. When comparing loans, look for lenders that accept little time in business. You'll also need to match the lender's other requirements, like revenue and credit score.

Is it smart to take out a business loan to start a business? ›

The best startup business loans are an option for getting upfront cash to get your business up and running. They may also help build credit, which can lead to more affordable loans down the road. But make sure to consider all your options before applying, as there are risks to consider, including high rates and fees.

How to fund a start-up business? ›

  1. Determine how much funding you'll need.
  2. Fund your business yourself with self-funding.
  3. Get venture capital from investors.
  4. Use crowdfunding to fund your business.
  5. Get a small business loan.
  6. Use Lender Match to find lenders who offer SBA-guaranteed loans.
  7. SBA investment programs.
May 14, 2024

How much is the monthly payment for a $100 K business loan? ›

Small Business Term Loans

On average, you can expect a $100,000 loan amount to include loan payments of $8,833.33 per month for 12 months or as low as $883.35 monthly payment for a 10-year business loan at 6% interest. Exact terms will vary based on your credit score, interest rate, lender, and other factors.

What is the easiest SBA loan to get approved for? ›

Thanks to the wide range of permitted loan uses, an SBA Express loan is financing that's easy to approve and is likely perfect for your startup's needs.

How much cash do you need for a small business loan? ›

Business owners should expect to pay a 10% to 30% down payment when applying for an SBA 7(a) loan. Startups or businesses with insufficient cash flow or low-value collateral typically have higher down payment requirements.

How long does it take a bank to approve a small business loan? ›

On average, most SBA loans take 30 to 90 days from applying to funding. 7(a) loan subtypes are backed directly by the SBA. The SBA's turnaround time is 2 to 10 business days, but approval from your chosen lender can take 30 to 60 days. Microloans are loans for smaller amounts of $50,000 or less.

Do you have to put money down for a small business loan? ›

Many SBA lenders require you to provide a down payment of at least 10% of the loan amount. Lenders often require you to put money down upfront because it shows you have an investment in paying the loan back, thereby reducing their risk of working with your business.

What is the average loan amount for a small business? ›

While you can get up to $5 million for a standard SBA 7(a) loan, most borrowers in 2022 took out just under a million dollars at $999,210. The average for all SBA 7(a) loans, including the Small Loan and Express programs, was $538,903.

Is it harder for a woman to start a business? ›

Inherent biases make it harder for women to get funding than men, and many women start later in life and juggle family commitments. There are some typical challenges female entrepreneurs must face on the road to success, this article will highlight them and provide some guidance on handling them.

What year would a woman get a business loan? ›

Women have come a long way since President Reagan signed the Women's Business Ownership Act into law in 1988, creating government support for women business owners and eliminating the requirement of male co-signers on loans for female entrepreneurs.

What percent down do you need for a small business loan? ›

A down payment for an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan ranges from 10 percent to 20 percent. For loans from banks, credit unions and alternative lenders, you may see down payment requirements that range from 10 percent to 30 percent — and some lenders that don't require any down payment.

What is the rejection rate for small business loans? ›

Key takeaways. If you applied for a business loan but were denied, you're not alone. According to the 2024 Report on Employer Firms, 22 percent of employer firms were denied business loans in the past 12 months. Another 28 percent were only partially approved.

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