Women In Business Can Now Shout, “Count-Me-In”
 

I was blessed with the opportunity to speak with one of the great small business visionaries today.  Nell Merlino is the President and CEO of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, a powerhouse nonprofit organization that strives to assist women in achieving economic independence through non-traditional small business loans.  So, you’ve been thinking about starting your own small business for years?  Well, Hiyaah Power is providing you with yet another resource at your disposal.

Female small business owners face numerous challenges in the daily operations of their enterprises.  Adequate funding is one of the greatest obstacles that either keeps women from starting their own businesses, or taking their existing businesses to the next level.  Although the Small Business Association estimates that woman-owned business contribute $2.38 trillion in revenue to the US economy, women continue to struggle to procure traditional start up loans.  Many of us do not even realize that woman-owned businesses constitute 28 percent of the private sector and employ 9.2 million people, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research.

Banks look for you to be in business for 2 years, event though that defeats the purpose of a “startup” loan.  I spoke with Nell Merlino about her vision and impetus for co-founding Count Me In.  She acknowledged that she personally “realized how hard it was to get money herself”, as a small business owner.  Ms. Merlino had direct experience in entrepreneurship and a life long interest in empowering women.

According to Merlino, financial systems marginalize a lot of women which “flies in the face of struggling women trying to start business.”  Her organization is working hard to change the system.  Financial and credit requirements are keeping certain segments of society from realizing “the American Dream.”    Count Me In is combating this hypocrisy by providing micro-loans, training, education and support online to women entrepreneurs.  In addition, Count-Me-In works with women to increase women’s access to credit and capital by introducing systemic change in credit scoring.  Ms. Merlino chard three main points that women should keep in mind when seeking funding for their business endeavors from Count-Me-In:

1. What is your credit score?
2. What type of business would you be interested in?
3. Do you have any experience?

The organization’s ideal candidate should have some experience in the field they are trying to open a business in.  Count-Me-In is not in the business of finding a business opportunity for you.  Merlino shared tat a lot of her success stories are between the ages of 30-40 and have some work experience in their field of business.  These women know enough about what they want to do and they are good at it.   Based on the success stories on the site, I encourage  readers to make sure they have developed their business plans to increase their likelihood of receiving a loan from Count-Me-In.  Merlino also stresses that women should being working on getting their credit scores cleaned up.  She admits that it can be a “slow painstaking process, but that women need to work their way out of it and deal with the shame of their mistake.”  Women often hold on to the mistakes of their past and allow it to keep them from embracing their futures. 

Ms. Merlino shared the reason why the Count-Me-I Success Stories featured on their website stood above the rest.  These women possessed experience and aspirations; and they were responsible in the way they had handled their money thus far.  It was their “dream and aspirations combined with their practical knowledge” that made them ideal candidates and success Count-Me-In micro-loan recipients.

Visit Count-Me-In on the Web to determine your eligibility for their unique lending opportunities.