Women’s History Month is Good for Southwest Florida Business

Women’s History Month is the perfect time to focus on successful female entrepreneurs from our past, present, and future.

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), more than 11.6 million firms in the United States are owned by women, employing nearly 9 million people, and generating $1.7 trillion in sales as of 2017. Women-owned firms (51% or more ownership) account for 39% of all privately held firms and contribute 8% of employment and 4.2% of revenues nationwide. Yet, data from the 2016 Status of Women in Florida by County: Poverty and Opportunity Report shows that here in Southwest Florida only about 30% of business is owned by women.

While access to capital is a big barrier for female entrepreneurs, it is not the only reason that fewer women than men start and grow their own businesses. There are scarce resources available to women thinking about starting their own companies – the crucial idea phase for entrepreneurs. That’s why the Southwest Florida Women’s Foundation is launching Business Building Blocks (B3) for Women during Women’s History Month to provide talented women among us the tools for exploring opportunities and ultimately launching their own businesses.

B3 for Women is a self-paced online course for female entrepreneurs just getting their business started. The course provides worksheets and materials to supplement each video lesson. B3 for Women was created by the Women’s Foundation, and funded by Comerica Bank, to guide entrepreneurs through the intimidating and sometimes confusing process of building a business that will grow and succeed.

Amazing entrepreneurs from our past pioneered the trail for today’s women. In 1977, a young mother with no business experience decided to start a business. I like to imagine that she would have inhaled the information we have loaded into B3 for Women. I’m also confident the Women’s Foundation would have endorsed this young woman for a micro-loan to launch Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chippery.  Debbi Fields, founder of what became Mrs. Fields Cookies, explains entrepreneurial motivation: "Entrepreneurship has no age or time limits...it thrives on hope and inspiration. Those who choose to participate can only make the world a better place."  It is interesting to note, that Fields did not consider her gender as a barrier in any way.

Once an aspiring entrepreneur completes our B3 for Women, she is eligible to apply for a micro-loan endorsed by the Women’s Foundation. The loans are up to $10,000, interest free, do not rely on credit scores, and allow up to 36 months for repayment.

Lydia Pinkham was ahead of her time in 1875 when she converted her herbal home remedies into a big business by skillfully marketing her products to women and educating them about health issues. Pinkham was deemed a crusader for women's health in an age when women's needs weren't being met by the medical community. We are better informed about women’s health today, but it’s intriguing to imagine that Lydia’s influence on understanding and awareness of women’s health would have been accelerated if B3 for Women had been her handy resource on marketing.

And then there is Oprah Winfrey, whose legacy-making contributions as a female entrepreneur have already greatly impacted and influenced our society. Oprah’s impoverished and dysfunctional upbringing in the 50s gave her the drive and determination to succeed against all odds. Today, she freely shares her influence and prosperity to support and inspire women and girls around the world.  Our dream at the Women’s Foundation is to help women in Southwest Florida use B3 for Women as a launch pad to follow Oprah’s example to ensure they have an opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial instincts and build their own empires.

The Southwest Florida Women’s Foundation will launch B3 for Women on Wednesday, March 27, 11 AM at the Naples Chamber of Commerce. Registration is open at bit.ly/B34Women, but space is limited, with pre-registration required.

Respectfully submitted by,

Brenda Tate, CEO

Southwest Florida Women’s Foundation

www.FundWomenFL.org

(239) 908-0301