The U.S. Small Business Administration has a section of its Web site devoted to women entrepreneurs. The site acknowledges that women business owners are critically important to the economy and backs that assertion up with numbers. Americas 9.1 million women-owned businesses employ 27.5 million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the economy.

Useful resources for women, from the SBA Web site, include the topics: Gateway for women-owned businesses selling to the government; Online Womens Business Center; the Office of Womens Business Ownership; Womens small business research; and several new entrepreneurship links under development.

Select: http://www.sba.gov/financing/special/women.html

You can also contact the SBAs Small Business Answer Desk by phone at: (800) U-ASK-SBA (827-5722).

Various organizations within the federal government offer information and assistance to anyone starting or running a small business. Most have special offices that'll work with your specific needs and concerns. You might start with the U.S. Small Business Administration--it offers a wealth of information and assistance on many small-business topics. Contact the Small Business Answer Desk at (800) U-ASK-SBA (827-5722).