On Saipan, several women-owned businesses exists, and these cover different industries from manufacturing perfumes and local products, distribution of signature clothes and bags and other items, food outlets and other businesses.
These women-owned businesses have chances and opportunities to expand, especially when they land contracts with the federal government.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is one avenue where women running businesses can go for assistance in how to land federal contracting opportunities.
Information from the SBA website states that specialized services for women-owned small businesses are available like business consultation, assistance for start-up or expansion, and identification of government procurement opportunities.
In 2006, SBA reported that contracts to women-owned small businesses accounted for $11.6 billion, and 3.4 percent of federal procurement for the year.
Tips on doing business with the government
SBA states that the first step to become a federal contractor is to register your business in the Central Contractor Registration database, an online portal that serves as an avenue for small businesses to touch base with federal government and prime contractors to market their goods and services. Register your business at www.ccr.gov.
When your business is already registered with the CCR database, prospective buyers can find you if they conduct a search because the site also houses the SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search Function. This means that if you are manufacturing local products like perfumes and accessories, buyers can find you when they do a search from the CCR site.
Available resources
A lot of resources are currently available for women who owns and runs small businesses to help them procure contracts with federal agencies, and these includes the Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, Office of the Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization Centers and more.
The SBA established the Women’s Business Center Program in 1988 to better help women overcome barriers to be successful in their individual businesses. The local resources include training in finance, management, marketing, and the Internet, as well as offering access to all of the SBA’s financial and procurement assistance programs.
In the CNMI, women-owned businesses can check with the CNMI Small Business Development Center at the Department of Commerce office for assistance and for more opportunities to expand their businesses.
The CNMI-SBDC offers different business workshops on a regular basis for free, and also conducts workshops that are tailored to fit your specific needs. Call Ralph Yumul or Linda Cabrera at 664-3018 or email linda@pacificsbdc.com.
