What is Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification and what advantages does it give your small business?
As a woman-owned business, you may have been directed to certification by your clients. If you are a woman-owned business that is in the transportation industry, for instance, then you may have a client is looking for a woman-owned company to perform a certain percentage of their work. Since they already know, like and trust you, they may encourage you to get the certification so they can "check the box" so to speak. In other cases, a woman-owned business will seek out certifications with the hope that it will yield opportunities. Depending on where you go to gain the certification will determine what types of opportunities you can expect to get.
There are usually WBE certifications available at the State, County or City level. These certifications are particularly useful if your company is looking for contracts with those agencies. WBE certifications can also be obtained on a National level by various certifying agencies. The main national certifying agencies are the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Women's Business Owners Council (NWBOC) and the United States Women's Chamber of Commerce (USWCC).
Certification from the aforementioned agencies will oftentimes, allow you to streamline the process with other agencies. The SBA's Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program, for instance, allows WBE certification from one of these companies to be considered 3rd party verification. This 3rd party verification greatly reduces the amount of documentation that is required to certify a business entity as a WOSB.
Another great benefit of certification from these agencies is their extensive corporate memberships. These agencies have relationships with major corporations that are looking to procure goods and services from women-owned businesses. A lot of the Fortune 500 companies will participate in some form of diversity procurement efforts because it's a Win-Win proposition for the company. It is good for the small business community when contracts are awarded to small local business. The benefits to the company are several; the corporation will often get tax incentives if thresholds are met with their procurement needs, the company gets the positive public perception by buying from small business, and the shareholders benefit from the positive public image by increasing stock prices
So not only can certification assist you in obtaining Federal, State County and city contracts, but also in the commercial sector.Gaining your WBE certification is not nearly as arduous and in depth as some of the others. So, if you think it could provide you with a competitive advantage, then educate yourself on the process or Certification Consultants LLC to see if we can assist you.
What is Time to the Woman Business and Spiritual Leader?
While contemplating what I would write about this week, I was reminded about how often I seem to 'run out of time'. As any true blooded entrepreneur and a woman in service, I often 'bite off more than I can chew" which I have heard my mother remind me of since I was a child.
Like many women, I have numerous obligations, fill multiple roles, and have projects with deadlines... all of which require the use of time... which I never seem to have enough of.
Many spiritual traditions do not believe in "time" as we know it; linear and able to be calculated, and that is a subject for a whole other article (or book!). Rather than waxing philosophical, I will inject a lighter note:
I love this story to which I believe we all might be able to relate (at least at some point in our lives).
A woodcutter, who is constantly exhausted by his frantic chopping all through the day, is afraid to stop knowing he has many obligations to fulfill. A friend comes by one day to talk with him about his exhausting work and to ask the woodcutter if he could inspect his axe.
After running his fingers up and down the blade, he advises his friend to take a few minutes to sharpen his axe; "your work will be easier and go more quickly". To which the woodcutter replied, "I can't... I just don't have the time"...
How many of us have been where the woodcutter is? I have to admit that this is often a familiar scenario for me. The mind-set of the woodcutter is such that he cannot see the forest for the tree (pardon the pun). I can get so dug in to what I am doing and to what still remains to be accomplished within given time frames that I often fail to see that I have a "dull axe"... even when people point it out to me!
In order to 'sharpen the axe' what can I do to have more time to accomplish what I have committed to?
1. When awakening, while in that state before full consciousness, I can begin with connecting to my Deity and surrendering my day and all of its activities to Divine guidance
2. Although challenging for me who has "done so much on my own" (or so I think), I can exercise my trust muscle. Surrendering to Divine guidance requires trust.
3. Sometime before I start my work, I can engage in a spiritual practice; studying in the faith of my choosing, reading inspirational material, journaling, engaging in yoga, (or others), meditation, contemplation, prayer...
4. Throughout the day (especially when I feel stressed and under pressure), I can take a few minutes to leave my desk (or the place of my work) and intentionally return to a state of peace. 5 - 10 minutes outside in nature, relaxing with a favorite cup of brew, or playing my favorite music (how 'bout a little dancing?)
5. And let me not forget the importance of preparing for sleep... A review of the day's accomplishments, and not what I didn't do or that still remains to be done, in a state of gratitude for those accomplishments will develop my trust muscle. After all, this is a process!
I am sure you can think of ways that you personally might 'sharpen your axe'.
Ruth Reiner is an ordained minister in the Interfaith tradition, spiritual counselor, professional nurse, certified life coach, and successful entrepreneur. She is president and co-founder of 'The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders'. Ruth has two adult daughters with families/four grandchildren.
Like many women, I have numerous obligations, fill multiple roles, and have projects with deadlines... all of which require the use of time... which I never seem to have enough of.
Many spiritual traditions do not believe in "time" as we know it; linear and able to be calculated, and that is a subject for a whole other article (or book!). Rather than waxing philosophical, I will inject a lighter note:
I love this story to which I believe we all might be able to relate (at least at some point in our lives).
A woodcutter, who is constantly exhausted by his frantic chopping all through the day, is afraid to stop knowing he has many obligations to fulfill. A friend comes by one day to talk with him about his exhausting work and to ask the woodcutter if he could inspect his axe.
After running his fingers up and down the blade, he advises his friend to take a few minutes to sharpen his axe; "your work will be easier and go more quickly". To which the woodcutter replied, "I can't... I just don't have the time"...
How many of us have been where the woodcutter is? I have to admit that this is often a familiar scenario for me. The mind-set of the woodcutter is such that he cannot see the forest for the tree (pardon the pun). I can get so dug in to what I am doing and to what still remains to be accomplished within given time frames that I often fail to see that I have a "dull axe"... even when people point it out to me!
In order to 'sharpen the axe' what can I do to have more time to accomplish what I have committed to?
1. When awakening, while in that state before full consciousness, I can begin with connecting to my Deity and surrendering my day and all of its activities to Divine guidance
2. Although challenging for me who has "done so much on my own" (or so I think), I can exercise my trust muscle. Surrendering to Divine guidance requires trust.
3. Sometime before I start my work, I can engage in a spiritual practice; studying in the faith of my choosing, reading inspirational material, journaling, engaging in yoga, (or others), meditation, contemplation, prayer...
4. Throughout the day (especially when I feel stressed and under pressure), I can take a few minutes to leave my desk (or the place of my work) and intentionally return to a state of peace. 5 - 10 minutes outside in nature, relaxing with a favorite cup of brew, or playing my favorite music (how 'bout a little dancing?)
5. And let me not forget the importance of preparing for sleep... A review of the day's accomplishments, and not what I didn't do or that still remains to be done, in a state of gratitude for those accomplishments will develop my trust muscle. After all, this is a process!
I am sure you can think of ways that you personally might 'sharpen your axe'.
Ruth Reiner is an ordained minister in the Interfaith tradition, spiritual counselor, professional nurse, certified life coach, and successful entrepreneur. She is president and co-founder of 'The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders'. Ruth has two adult daughters with families/four grandchildren.
Woman Business Loans UK - Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs
Women of UK have proofed their rights and existence not only in family limitations but also in corporate sector. They had well established themselves in every sector and had given fruitful results and had set examples not to give hope. Thus, to create every possible opportunity for women, funds are advanced in the form of loans. With the help of women business loans UK, they can set a business of their own rather then rely on somebody.
The objectives and aims of women business loans UK is to finance for setting up a new business, use the fund to expand the existing business, to takeover another business, purchase equipments or machineries for business and paying business dues. Despite the mentioned objectives, women can use the loan to meet every business related ends.
In UK, lenders have come up with women business loans UK to provide advance with competitive rates. The applicants need to search in the competitive market the low offers, favourable terms and also suitable according to financial ability and then she can click on for a reliable deal.
Women business loans UK are classified into two options like any other loans: secured and unsecured loans. In secured option, applicants have to place collateral for approval of the loans. This option can be availed by those women who have collateral to place. Collateral accepted are home, car, land, estate etc. Applicants can secure large amount of loan under this option for a long repayment term. And women without or unwilling to place collateral can apply for unsecured women business loans UK.
The UK women can also avail the women business loans UK through online mode. Approaching a lender and approval becomes much simpler and convenient through this mode. It is a low cost application method, faster than tradition method and moreover saves time. The female applicant can approach despite their bad credit score but with a little high rate of interest than offered to a good credit scorer. The female business entrepreneurs can improve their financial status by being regular in the instalments.
Thus, women business loans UK helps every women applicant to establish their own identity through business sector.
The objectives and aims of women business loans UK is to finance for setting up a new business, use the fund to expand the existing business, to takeover another business, purchase equipments or machineries for business and paying business dues. Despite the mentioned objectives, women can use the loan to meet every business related ends.
In UK, lenders have come up with women business loans UK to provide advance with competitive rates. The applicants need to search in the competitive market the low offers, favourable terms and also suitable according to financial ability and then she can click on for a reliable deal.
Women business loans UK are classified into two options like any other loans: secured and unsecured loans. In secured option, applicants have to place collateral for approval of the loans. This option can be availed by those women who have collateral to place. Collateral accepted are home, car, land, estate etc. Applicants can secure large amount of loan under this option for a long repayment term. And women without or unwilling to place collateral can apply for unsecured women business loans UK.
The UK women can also avail the women business loans UK through online mode. Approaching a lender and approval becomes much simpler and convenient through this mode. It is a low cost application method, faster than tradition method and moreover saves time. The female applicant can approach despite their bad credit score but with a little high rate of interest than offered to a good credit scorer. The female business entrepreneurs can improve their financial status by being regular in the instalments.
Thus, women business loans UK helps every women applicant to establish their own identity through business sector.
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