SBA Women's Business Centers (WBC) Network
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Free to low-cost services
Free business counseling for women entrepreneurs
A nationwide network of ~130–150 centers operated by nonprofits and universities, providing free and low-cost counseling, training, and mentoring specifically designed for women entrepreneurs — though centers can serve any small business owner. Services cover starting a business, raising capital, navigating procurement, financial literacy, and overcoming barriers women disproportionately face in accessing funding. Funded through SBA cooperative agreements averaging ~$150K–$250K per center per year.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $0
- Realistic amount
- No cash transferred to clients. Economic value varies: a startup assessment session takes 2–4 free advisor hours; a 6-mo…
- Deadline
- Rolling — no application deadline. Contact your nearest WBC at any time.
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- subsidized services
Who qualifies
- Primary focus is women who want to start, grow, or expand a small business. Women entrepreneurs are the priority client for WBC services, but most centers also serve men — WBCs are not legally restricted to women-only clients under the program statute.
- Must be a current or prospective small business owner who meets SBA small business size standards (generally fewer than 500 employees, or revenue-based thresholds by industry).
- Located anywhere in the United States (all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories have at least some WBC coverage, though gaps exist in rural states).
- No minimum revenue, time in business, or industry restriction — pre-revenue entrepreneurs and established businesses with multiple employees can both access WBC services.
- No application fee and no competitive selection — any qualifying small business owner can access WBC counseling at no charge.
- No SAM.gov registration required — WBC is a services program. Clients contact their local center directly without registering with the federal government.
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business plan development and review for startups and growth-stage businesses
- WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) and EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged WOSB) federal certification guidance
- SBA loan application preparation — 7(a), 504, and microloan programs
- Microloan access through SBA intermediaries and CDFI partners
- Federal government contracting orientation and capability statement preparation
- Financial literacy training: understanding P&L, cash flow management, pricing for profit
- Marketing strategy, brand development, and social media training
- Capital access: pitch coaching, investor readiness, crowdfunding strategy
- Franchise evaluation and due diligence
- Export readiness and international market entry support
- HR and employment basics for first-time employers
Ineligible expenses
- No cash grants or loans — WBC provides advisory services and referrals, not direct financial assistance
- Legal representation — WBC advisors provide business guidance, not legal services
- Accounting, bookkeeping, or tax preparation — WBC can teach these skills or refer to CPAs, but does not perform them
- Services to businesses that exceed SBA small business size standards
- Businesses not located or planned to be located in the United States
How to apply
-
1
Locate your nearest WBC
Go to sba.gov/wbc and enter your ZIP code to find the nearest Women's Business Center. Confirm the center is currently accepting new clients (a small number of WBCs have waitlists; most do not). Check if the center has advisors who specialize in your industry or business challenge (e.g., federal contracting, food business licensing, tech startup fundraising).
~0.25 hrs
-
2
Schedule an intake appointment
Call or email the center to book a free initial counseling session. Have a brief description of your business or idea ready: what you do or plan to do, where you are in the process, and what you most need help with (funding, business plan, certification, contracts). Most WBCs can schedule within 1–3 weeks. Virtual sessions are available at most centers.
~0.5 hrs
-
3
Meet with your advisor and develop an action plan
Your first session is a confidential one-on-one with a WBC counselor — typically a businesswoman with industry expertise or formal business education. She will assess your situation, identify your top priorities, and outline a plan of action. You may be referred to SBA loan programs, WOSB certification, federal procurement workshops, or peer networking groups. Most clients work with a WBC advisor over multiple sessions spanning 1–12 months.
~5 hrs
-
4
Participate in training workshops and networking events
WBCs regularly host workshops on financing, QuickBooks, federal contracting basics, branding, and sector-specific topics. Many centers hold networking events, pitch competitions for women-owned businesses, and matchmaking events with lenders and prime contractors. Attendance costs are typically $0–$75. These events are often the highest-value touchpoints beyond one-on-one counseling.
~4 hrs
WBCs host procurement matchmaking events with federal buyers — the highest-ROI free program most women founders don't know about until they've already been a client for months.
Deadline & timing
WBCs are always-open service programs with no intake cycles or competitive deadlines. Find your nearest center at sba.gov/wbc by ZIP code. Many centers offer evening and weekend hours to accommodate women who balance business ownership with caregiving responsibilities.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.