What it is

The Washington, DC Women's Business Center (DCWBC) is operated by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Its stated aim is to build a network of women entrepreneurs in the DC Metro region who have access to the tools, capital, knowledge and networks they need to grow. Services are delivered by experienced professionals through individual counseling, webinars, training courses, networking events and online tools.

What it offers founders

DCWBC organizes its support around three stages of a business:

  • Starting a business: business planning, setting up accounting, access to funding, choosing a business entity, and marketing and sales strategy.
  • Growing a business: reaching new markets, funding for expansion, locating government contracts, HR policies and distribution channels.
  • Understanding a business: assessing operations, reading financial statements, projecting sales and marketing results, and analyzing customer needs.

Core services include free one-on-one counseling, virtual events and trainings, and an online resource library.

Who it is for

The center focuses on women entrepreneurs and woman-owned businesses in the DC Metro region, from people still planning a business to established small businesses looking to expand. Founders exploring government contracting may find the contracting guidance useful, including information about the federal Woman-Owned Small Business program.

Cost and how to engage

Counseling sessions are free, and most trainings and workshops are free, though some may carry a small fee. To get started, sign up for 1-on-1 counseling, browse and register for trainings and events, or review the resources page. Answers to common questions are on the DCWBC FAQ. The center can be reached by phone at 202-393-8307.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Because DCWBC is funded in part by the SBA, it gives women founders in the region a no-cost entry point to professional business advising, alongside the region's other small business resource partners. Its counseling covers practical early steps such as entity setup, bookkeeping and financing, and it extends into growth topics like government contracts, which matter in a region where federal procurement is a large market.