Home and Small Business Owners are categorized as self-employed and as such have no company-provided health insurance. It’s a different story if you are married to someone who has company benefits because you then enjoy the benefits of being included in the policy with potential of catering to your needs.
If you do not have a spouse with those bennies, there are still other options. So my next question is, do you belong to a professional association? If so, you may be eligible for group insurance. Another option for the self-employed is that you can connect with an independent insurance professional and talk about getting individual group coverage.
Or follow the lead of other business owners, hit the online pavement and do your own research.
Before you make a final decision, be sure that you are dealing with a reputable company. Research their history to get an idea about their track record. You can start your research online but then take it to a live platform and call the companies that you are researching. Keep in mind that companies have issues every once in a while. Find out how they resolved these issues and how prompt was their response. In the end, be wise about your choice and use your judgment to determine if it fits your needs, values, and if they are likely to be around when you need them.
What follows is a list of INFORMATION Sources to get you started.
There are a myriad of programs for the expressed purpose to help women entrepreneurs to start, grow, and expand their businesses. I am cognizant that a good portion of business owners personally finance their businesses. Yet there is another part of this sector that seeks financial support.
It is well established that business financing come in many forms. The information that follows targets US based government programs, which categorize government financing into two areas: grants and loans.
The current federal and state government agencies do not offer grants to women to help them start a business. Non-profits and private organizations normally endow business owners with grants. Yet based on experience these grants are very rare and the focus has typically been on helping minority women and women in economically disadvantaged communities.
Although limited in numbers, loans are available specifically to help women start and expand their businesses.
Keep in mind that the above mentioned resources not only provide information about how and where to locate government funds, but some of the web sites listed also provide other business related information for different types of entrepreneurs: home based businesses, self-employed, non-profit organizations, disabled people, and minority owned and veteran owned businesses.
Ladies, it is wise to research so that you can make a sound business financial decision as well as determine what is available for your own personal use or referral purposes. If you live outside of the US, I encourage you to make note of these financial resources. You have a good probability that you can locate similar and available programs in your particular country.
