Starting your own business is a great reason to pat yourself on the back no matter what type of business it is. It takes a lot of hard work to take a business idea and make it a business reality. Becoming your own boss is an accomplishment for anyone, but there are more hurdles for women entrepreneurs than for men in the world of small business.

Learning the ins and outs of running your own establishment is difficult enough, but female business owners have to deal with harassment and being seen as less capable. That’s why female entrepreneurs have a penchant for going above the bar and crushing glass ceilings. If you’re a female entrepreneur getting started in the business world, this short guide will provide you with tips to run your business efficiently.

1. Join a trade association or social group for female entrepreneurs.

Have you ever noticed that being around other great people brings out the best in you? One of the reasons adoring fans have been known to fall lifelessly at the feet of beloved celebs is that greatness carries its own energy. Joining an organization for female entrepreneurs is the best way to surround yourself with other women entrepreneurs who will support you and even be able to offer advice and insight.

Even though these organizations are ways to connect and network, they’re much more than a social group for business owners. They often have trade shows and conferences where they share valuable market insights and hold business training sessions. People learn everything at these conferences from how to formulate a business idea to the best ways to use social media for marketing.

Being in an association for women entrepreneurs is also a great way to learn about other business ideas for female entrepreneurs. The key is to put yourself around the type of people you want to become. If you want to be a successful female entrepreneur who opens doors for other women, you should join an association for women business owners.

2. Find the right suppliers.

For your business to be reliable, you have to have reliable suppliers. This is especially true if you’re in the food industry. The integrity of the supply chain not only has serious demand implications but also has critical health implications.

If you need a distributor for your grocery store and want to keep costs low, it’s more efficient to go with one supplier who provides numerous products. For instance, Canadian Springs is the oldest beverage delivery company in Canada, and Perrier, Nestle Pure Life, Poland Spring, Deer Park, and other popular water brands.

In other words, Canadian Springs is like a one-stop-shop for your beverage needs. Tapping them as your beverage supplier would save you a great deal of capital as opposed to ordering directly from each brand’s distribution center.

3. Don’t be afraid of growth.

When your business is successful and an opportunity presents itself for your business to expand, saying yes to growth can be difficult. However, any opportunity to grow is one you have to grab by the proverbial horns.

For instance, if you’re running a smoothie shop that’s already having success with an adult after-work crowd, you could boost your profits by selling daiquiris as well. You could take a brief class on how to serve alcohol responsibly in your business and get your certification in short order.

The key to succeeding in business is to be willing to expand your business and learn new skills. We still have a long way to go before women entrepreneurs have equal opportunity in the United States, but the way you run your enterprise could do wonders to move the needle forward!