Expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive.

We believe diversity promotes innovation, opens doors, and creates partnerships that fuel the economy. That’s why we not only provide the most relied upon certification standard for women-owned businesses, but we also offer the tools to help them succeed.

Invest in Women. Buy Women Owned.

Women Owned is an initiative from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and WEConnect International to create a movement of support for Women Owned businesses. We support female entrepreneurs and those who do business with them by raising awareness for why, where and how to buy Women Owned.

Any storefronts, websites and product labels bearing the Women Owned Logo have been certified as at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women by WBENC in the United States and WEConnect International globally.

Who We Are

WBENC was founded in 1997 to develop a nationwide standard for women-owned business certification. Since then, the organization has grown to become the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States and a leading advocate for women-owned businesses in corporate and government supply chains.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit, WBENC partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations to provide its world-class standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country, and offers programming and resources to help women-owned businesses thrive.

This is possible through the support from Corporate and Government Members, dedicated to supplier diversity and investing in the development of women-owned businesses as suppliers.

Join WBENC in supporting women entrepreneurs.

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Grow your women-owned business.

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What We Do

Our mission is to fuel economic growth globally by identifying, certifying, and facilitating the development of women-owned businesses.

We work to accomplish this by focusing on our CORE platform — Certification, Opportunities, Resources, and Engagement.

Certification

WBENC Certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. Our world-class certification standard is accepted by thousands of corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities.

Learn More about WBENC Certification

Opportunities

We provide best-in-class programs, events and networking opportunities for women-owned businesses, supplier diversity experts, government and corporate procurement professionals, and other industry and thought leaders throughout the U.S.

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Resources

To address the challenges many women face in building and growing a business, we provide support and resources through the full life cycle of entrepreneurship. Our goal is to ensure women business owners have access to the education, support, and tools they need to grow and succeed.

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Engagement

Our theme is Join Forces. Succeed Together. because we know that success is only possible when we partner with our constituents toward a set of common goals. We foster healthy engagement through advisory councils, ambassador programs, and a robust recognition and awards program.

View our awards and recognitions

We are elevating women-owned businesses across the country. Read more about our impact in the latest WBENC Annual Report.

View Annual Reports