You've probably heard of what an SBA-backed loan can do for your successful, growing business. You're intrigued by the promise of easy-to-pay, low interest loans-partially guaranteed by the government-that will allow to take the steps needed to ensure your business' future is as bright as its past. You understand that you'll need to explain a lot about your business and provide documentation to show it's on the right track. You know that you need to show that your business has a clear path to success, and that you have an airtight plan that will make sure you get there.

So now it's time to think about the details. What you might not have heard is that the SBA can offer you some nice benefits with your loan if you are a business owner and a woman. What does an SBA loan for woman business owners offer? Here are some of the important benefits:

• Pre-qualification: To encourage woman business owners to apply for loans, the SBA has created a pre-qualification program that streamlines the SBA loan process for woman business owners. Like any other SBA loan, when applying using the pre-qualification process woman business owners do not apply directly to the SBA. There are entities-called intermediaries-that help facilitate and validate pre-qualification.
  
  Take care when applying to make sure the fees charged are fair. Both non- and for-profit concerns make pre-qualification their business, and-as in any aspect of business-some companies may be unscrupulous or unfair. Generally speaking, however, this is a great feature offered by the SBA for woman business owners seeking loans.

• Guidance and support: From training to research to networking, the SBA has attempted to establish a variety of programs that together form a clearinghouse and support center for woman business owners and entrepreneurs. The SBA views women as a vital and underrepresented group of business owners. The significant and growing percentage of businesses owned by women-and the billions of dollars they bring in each year-are testament to the importance of women to the small business community.


• Special loans: Women are included in groups that qualify for the SBA's 504 program. The SBA 504 loan for woman business owners offers a generous loan of up to $2.0 million to the expansion of woman-owned businesses within a community.

The 504 SBA program is special: it has restrictions and requirements designed to facilitate responsible custodianship of the large sums involved in this program. The 504 SBA loan for woman-operated business concerns offers significant funding beyond what may normally be offered under the 504.

With all of the great incentives offered by the SBA loan for woman business owners, there's never been a better time to see what the SBA can do to help your good business do better. Contacting an intermediary for pre-qualification is a great way to get started, or consult your local lender for more information.