Although these observations by the National Women’s Business Council refer specifically to female business owners, they are equally applicable to minority business owners:

“Like all entrepreneurs, women business owners face many challenges in making their entrepreneurship dreams a reality.  Some of the challenges faced by women may be specific to women, due to the historical and cultural context within which they do their work.  Women have the challenge of confronting and overcoming the historical barriers of being kept out of business and capital markets until the late 1980s.  Even today, women’s access to information (or lack thereof) about financing strategies and opportunities may be limited due to a lack of access to the social networks where many key decision makers and capital players make deals.  A lack of information about financing a business may result in more women raising lower levels of capital or pursuing only debt financing, which can limit their growth potential. ”

Click the image to read more from the NWBC.
 

 
With the above in mind, Tom Shaw (a Visible Systems Specialist for Magnatag) has published an excellent series of links to resources for women and minority business owners. Shaw provides links to 45 resources!! Click here to access Shaw’s “Women and Minority-Owned Business Resources.”