What is Women-Owned business?

**thomas_smith** · 03-22-2010 10:23 AM

Federal and state government agencies do not provide any special structure to register or form women-owned companies. There is no special terminology used to form a women-own company with the federal and state. But there are some special programs are available on federal, state and county levels.

**soloads** · 03-31-2010 04:50 PM

I am not sure what state you live in, but the one I live in DOES have specific descriptions as to what IS a women-owned company!

**Terry Justice** · 04-19-2010 01:55 PM

We typically observe the following criteria. A female must control 51% of the company stock or ownership and she must play an active role in the daily operation of the business. This is to help ensure male/majority owned firms are representing themsleves as woman owned by having their wife's name on the company documents.

There are a few organizations that have established formal certification programs for the woman owned business community.

One of the organizations being the WBCNA or WBENC.

A group of local small business advocates in the Birmingham area (Alabama) recently established a new business forum for collaboration with state and local organizations. The site is realbusinesschat.com/forum

There are representatives from WBCNA, MBOC, SCORE and others already in the forum, although the official launch isn't planned for another month or two.

**PennyBartlow** · 05-19-2010 02:03 PM

I live in NY and there is a WBE (Women Business Enterprise) status that a women owned business can apply for. This is probably similar in other states. It requires majority ownership by a woman and submitting a lot of paperwork to prove it. Many public money projects require a certain percentage of products or services be provided by a WBE, so there are some advantages.

To Your Success!
Penny Bartlow

WEALTH MINDSET REPORT

**ServiceBizBoost** · 08-26-2010 04:18 AM

Women owned business means "business run by women". I don't agree with this term for classification. Yes, it would be nice if it is called as People owned business. All business are run by people (with both genders).

Lorraine