NAWBO

The National Association of Women Business Owners was formed in 1975 in Washington, DC by Susan Hager and eleven other women business owners, who began by sharing information on federal contracting and access to capital at a time when women in the United States could not reliably obtain a loan or buy a home in their own name. It describes itself as the only dues-based organisation representing women entrepreneurs across all industries and sizes of business, and combines local chapters with national advocacy. Membership is defined by ownership rather than revenue: a member must be a woman who holds an equity interest in her business, files business taxes, has a business office including a home office, and takes part in day-to-day and strategic decisions. Five paid levels are published. Premier membership costs US$479.40 a year and carries full voting rights and eligibility for leadership and awards; Basic costs US$359.40; Individual Supporting, open to male business owners and to executives of either gender, costs US$500; Corporate Supporting costs US$795; and Virtual membership, for women more than 45 miles from a chapter, costs US$250. A NextGen level serves students and entrepreneurs in the first one to three years of a first business.

How it works

Prospective members either find a chapter within 45 miles of them or join the national Virtual community, then choose a membership level and complete an online form; a welcome email arrives immediately and a member packet follows. Chapters run local programming and are where most in-person activity happens, while national membership adds education through the NAWBO Institute, advocacy campaigns, awards, a member directory and negotiated perks on health, business and travel services. Premier members can vote, hold leadership positions and be considered for awards; supporting members participate in programmes and events without those rights.

Typical member

Women business owners of all sizes and stages, from sole proprietors and independent contractors to owners of larger companies. NAWBO's own definition covers "Any individual who identifies as a woman who owns an equity interest in her business (sole proprietor, partner, LLC member, independent contractor or 5%+ corporate shareholder)". Male business owners and executives of either gender may join as supporting members without voting rights.

NAWBO's distinguishing features are its age, its advocacy role and its ownership-based test. Where most organisations in this database screen on revenue, NAWBO screens on whether a woman actually owns and runs a business - down to a 5 per cent corporate shareholding - which lets a sole proprietor and the owner of a substantial company sit in the same room. It is also explicit that men are welcome as supporting members, and prices that tier above the two women's tiers, at US$500 against US$479.40 for Premier. Two practical notes. First, the difference between Premier and Basic is governance, not programming: voting rights, leadership eligibility and award eligibility. Second, NAWBO does not publish a member count anywhere, and the 12 million figure often quoted refers to all women-owned businesses in the United States, not to NAWBO's membership.

Editorial analysis by Peer Group Guide editors. It is separated from the record above and follows the editorial policy.