Membership Category Descriptions/Benefits

NAWBO NOVA supports women business owners (WBOs) who share experiences and expertise and who use NAWBO NOVA as a tool to grow themselves and their companies.

Our goal is to create an organization that offers effective and measurable support that facilitates the growth of women business owners and women-owned businesses, especially those with annual earnings above $1M. We offer WBOs a place to share strengths and support weaknesses in a no-sales atmosphere.

We offer four categories of membership:

• Established: WBO actively involved in the day-to-day managagement of her company
• Emerging: WBO in business for the first time and for less than two years
• Supporting: Anyone who supports WBO
• Honorary: Appointed member

There are several additional National membership categories detailed at the NAWBO National website.

Click here to join NAWBO NOVA today!

Discover the benefits of NAWBO NOVA membership:

Established WBO Member: An Established Woman Business Owner Member is a woman who is an "individual proprietor, partner, or stockholder who exercises the power to make policy decisions and is actively involved in day-to-day management of her firm." In addition, if a women is a representative for another company, is an independent real estate agent, or participates in a multi-level operation, there is a specific guideline for determining eligibility:

A women is a WBO if the parent company does NOT control the means and methods by which the woman operates AND the woman is solely responsible for her own expenses and profits AND the woman is paid by a K-1 or 1099 and NOT a W2. Established Membership is the only voting category, and an Established WBO Member has one (1) vote. An Establish Member is not entitled to national membership unless her membership application has first been reviewed and accepted by the chapter.

Emerging WBO Member: A WBO in business for the first time and for less than two years or a full-time student planning to be WBO is welcomed to NAWBO NOVA as an Emerging Member. This membership offers discounts on Chapter and National annual fees, and so is limited to two years. Membership in this classification is non-voting. An Emerging Member is not entitled to national membership unless her membership application has first been reviewed and accepted by the chapter.

Supporting Member: Anyone -- woman, man, employee, retiree, sponsor -- who subscribes to the objectives and goals of NAWBO and wants to lend support through membership is enthusiastically welcomed to join NAWBO as a Supporting Member. Membership in this classification is non-voting and shall not constitute more than 10% of the chapter membership. A Supporting Member is not entitled to national membership unless her membership application has first been reviewed and accepted by the chapter.

Honorary Member: An Honorary Member is an individual of distinction who has made significant contributions to the objectives of NAWBO and to the advancement of women business owners. Honorary Membership is bestowed by NAWBO NOVA. Membership in this classification is non-voting and at the chapter level only.

Below is a list of benefits associated with each membership category. Visit our Benefits page for a list of full benefits.