To qualify, a business must meet the following minimum criteria:

• It must be 51 percent owned and actively managed by a woman or women
• It must have been in operation for a minimum of two years
• It must have at least two full-time employees, including the business owner
• Annual revenues must be at least $250,000 for a retail or manufacturing business or $100,000 for a service business
• The owner must have clearly defined strategic objectives and specific reasons for seeking an advisory panel

Businesses are selected from a field of applicants by a governing body made up of volunteer community members. Once the specific needs are determined, the local program recruits local professionals to provide the necessary guidance. The business owner is then paired with a volunteer advisory panel that is tailored to fit the company's needs.