Though starting a small business was tough, Crompton used her company's woman- owned status to give her an edge over mainstream wine-selling businesses as base officials bought alcohol for special events.

Crompton brought her business, CKK Wine Distribution, to the area three years ago when she moved to Mount Pleasant. Now, she's looking to tap into the region's ''military market'' as a woman-owned business that can receive preference from government agencies.

To learn how, she attended the Women in Business conference on Saturday. The event, put on by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Women, targeted women who are joining the professional realm at a ''phenomenal'' rate, said Jennet Robinson Alterman , executive director of the Center for Women.

In 2002, Charleston County had the second largest number of women- owned businesses in the state at 8,488, according to the state's Office of Research and Statistics. Since then, Charleston has moved into the lead, Alterman said.

''You represent the economic future of South Carolina,'' Chamber President Tom Hood told a roomful of about 400 attendees. He was one of few men present at the event.

The conference included a series of sessions that focused on how women can market their businesses, balance work and family commitments and capitalize on government contracts.

As Crompton found out in Florida, what government officials buy can cover a wide range, including catering, floral arrangements and chairs.

''You'd be surprised at what the government needs,'' said Christy, whose book, ''Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned,'' was published in September.

Federal government agencies aim to spend 5 percent of their contracting money on minority and women-owned business. In South Carolina, that goal is 10 percent, and prime contractors that subcontract out to those businesses can receive a 4 percent tax credit, up to $25,000.

Other workshops focused on how women can budget their time between the office and home.

That's what 25-year- old Laura Olsen was most interested in. Since she started her interior design business a year ago, she's had a hard time taking care of her 16 year- old brother and still having time for her friends.

At the conference, she heard how other women were able to overcome scheduling conflicts by assigning certain activities to certain days of the week.

The conference ended with a lunch workshop at which attendees ate alongside 40 local business leaders, which gave them the opportunity to network and ask for advice, Alterman said.

''A whole lot of business is done as a result of this conference,'' she said

Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com.