Are you an African-American woman considering starting your own business? Are you looking for assistance with the start-up costs, or even the entire financing your new endeavor? Have you thought about grants and small loans structured specifically for minority owned businesses? If not, why not?! Did you know that of all business owners in 2002, 8.
43% were African-American? Of that 8.
43%, an impressive 46% of those companies were owned by women.
That's a pretty good statistic if you are an African-American woman who is looking to start her own business.
There are plenty of websites on-line that can give you tips and ideas, but there are a couple of good government sites that will help you cut down on some of your research.
Here are just three ideas that were on government websites for loans and grants.
Under the link for "Woman Owned Businesses" you will be able to get information on the following agencies:

• The Minority Business Development Agency.
  This is a federal agency designed specifically with the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in the United States.
  They list business opportunities as well as addressing the financial aspect of starting your company.
  
• The Small Business Office of Business Development: This website will provide you with some of the tools you need and services that can assist small disadvantaged businesses grow and thrive in this economy.
  
• The SBA Office of Womens' Business Ownership has information specifically written for women who are just starting out, with tips on how to become successful and remain successful.
  

You can find all of the above information and more at www.
business.
gov.
Aside from loans, there are grants available to help get you started.
Check into http://www.
grants.
gov to see what they have to offer.
You can fill in applications on-line to see if you qualify for any grants.
Another resource to keep in mind is your own state.
Almost every state has its own funding and information for women-or minority-women owned businesses.
Simply go to your State's Minority Business Development Center website and see how it can help you.
There are also other websites that offer assistance in writing a plan for a successful company, and the steps to follow when creating a new business.
Remember, there are multiple ways to get financing for your business and defray some costs.
Women have a huge Entrepreneurial spirit, and make up a large share of business ownership, especially in the African-American market, so take advantage of the help that is out there for you!