| Nothing can give you a feeling of accomplishment and | | | | success through hard work and ingenuity. But |
| empowerment quite like owning and running your own | | | | knowledge of the business world and how to market |
| business. The satisfaction of creating a company from | | | | your business is a must. You can have the best |
| the beginning is worth all of the struggles you may | | | | product on earth, the coolest website on the Internet, |
| face during the process. But making all of the | | | | or the most in-demand service out there - but if no |
| day-to-day decisions and being your own boss is quite | | | | one knows about it, it will fail. You must find a way to |
| a change from just carrying out assignments or | | | | learn the basics of marketing your business to your |
| completing projects as an employee of someone else. | | | | target market. Look to resources offered by The |
| And women may face additional challenges when | | | | Center for Women's Business Research or the US |
| beginning a business that their male counterparts do | | | | Small Business Administration that specifically apply to |
| not. Read on the see how women get help to start a | | | | women, or join a marketing program that teaches you |
| small business. | | | | how to master this critical skill. |
| Big 3 Challenges | | | | No Mentoring - A mentor can be an invaluable |
| Every entrepreneur faces multiple roadblocks and | | | | resource in guiding you through the pitfalls of starting |
| barriers to success with a new business start-up. But | | | | and running a woman-owned business. Another |
| women may experience even tougher challenges | | | | entrepreneur that has "been there" before can save |
| when starting out. The three biggest challenges are: | | | | you time and money by giving advice and counseling |
| Inadequate Finances - Raising capital is tough for any | | | | along the way. You can spend big money on a |
| business start-up, but women may face an | | | | business coach so be careful to choose wisely. |
| "unconscious bias" from lenders against women | | | | Experts agree that women do not necessarily need a |
| entrepreneurs - according to Astia, a not-for-profit | | | | female mentor, but multiple mentors may be a |
| organization which helps female entrepreneurs find | | | | preferred option. |
| funding. Seek out the help of groups like the National | | | | So if you have decided to join the over 8 million |
| Association of Women Business Owners when | | | | women-owned businesses in the US, continue your |
| needing major funding or start a business with low | | | | research into how women get help to start a small |
| capital requirements. | | | | business by doing your due diligence and seeking out |
| Lack of Education - A University education has never | | | | the answers you need to be successful. |
| been a prerequisite for entrepreneurs, who tend to find | | | | |