For new entrepreneurs, the path to success can be difficult to navigate alone.
When trying to turn an idea into a sustainable business, some entrepreneurs may consider leveraging outside resources to aid in the process. One of her local resources available to minority and women entrepreneurs is Community Works Women’s Business Center.
In 2020, the Women’s Business Center opened in Greenville, providing resources and training to economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs across 15 South Carolina counties. The local center, which operates under the U.S. Small Business Administration, is one of three Women’s Business Centers in the state.
“Our main mission is to community works There are huge gaps in access to resources, so it’s about trying to provide the support these communities need,” said Jovan Benjamin, director of the Women’s Business Center.
If an entrepreneur expresses an interest in receiving support from the center, they will first be directed to complete a free discovery session. Benjamin said the meetings help staff determine where clients are in their business journey and what resources are needed.
The center supports entrepreneurs launching new businesses in a variety of industries including food, beauty, entertainment, and transportation. We provide one-on-one business consulting and coaching, networking events, workshops, and training for women entrepreneurs.
The Women’s Business Center offers a variety of business training courses. This course is taught by instructors who bring real-world entrepreneurial experience and wisdom to guide new entrepreneurs.
The training is divided into three phases, each representing a stage of the entrepreneur.
- READY: Course for companies at the idea stage
- SET: Courses for companies in the start-up stage
- GO: Course for growing companies
“We wanted to create a roadmap for entrepreneurs,” Benjamin said. “Not everyone has the same experience as a business owner, so breaking it down into READY, SET, and GO phases is very helpful in accommodating all business owners.”
One of the centre’s most popular courses is the 10-week Microentrepreneurial Training Series taught by CEO Paul Smith. Best Carolina LLC. By the end of the course, participants will create a business plan and present it through an elevator pitch.
“We develop the mindset and confidence to take risks, even calculated risks, and also communicate our ideas through elevator pitches,” Smith said.
A barrier many women entrepreneurs face when starting a business is access to capital.by National Women’s Business CouncilFemale business owners need less capital to finance their companies than men and rely more on personal sources.
To break down this barrier, the Women’s Business Center strives to help women access lending, investing, and financial education. For example, the center offers three financial workshops that help entrepreneurs learn about money management, budgeting, cash flow, and how to apply for loans and grants.
April Evans, an event flow maestro and owner of an emcee business, said the business center has helped her understand more about business financing.
“I thought funding was out of my reach,” Evans said. “Community Works started letting me know that there were resources and tools available to businesses like mine.”
Entrepreneurs like Evans who come to the Women’s Business Center for assistance also have access to financial loans provided by Community Works. The organization offers a variety of loan products to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their small businesses.
In its four years of operation, CommunityWorks Women’s Business Center has helped 405 entrepreneurs from across the Upstate launch and grow their businesses. Benjamin said the center continues to seek out new opportunities and resources to help entrepreneurs prepare for success.
“We’re going to start a podcast to really reach more people and offer programs like mentorship,” Benjamin said. “Maybe we could offer membership opportunities. I see a lot of other women’s business centers doing great work, so we want to move forward with them as well.” .”
Minority or women business owners interested in learning more about the Women’s Business Center are encouraged to register for a free online consultation. For more information, visit communityworkscarolina.org/wbc/.
