How to Obtain Small Business Grants

Most small businesses fail within the first year because they were poorly managed. Some fail because they just couldn’t gather the necessary funds to get a solid start. Let’s face it, even the best leaders and brightest entrepreneurs in the world need money to invest if they wish to start a successful small business. This is where grants for small business come in. With more than 300 different small grants and loans available for the aspiring entrepreneur, finding the proper grant can be a challenge.

Depending on the scope and estimated profit of the business, grants can range anywhere from $25,000 all the way up to $1,000,000. Even if you have already started your business and have been in successful operation for years, there are small business grants allowable for growth and expansion. The absolute best thing about grants, as opposed to loans, is that there are absolutely no re-payment requirements. As such, even those with poor credit or those who’ve filed bankruptcy can obtain a grant. The money for Grants from national income taxes, so they are viewed as an investment for economic stability.


 

If you don’t mind paying a shipping fee, there are websites such as Grant Master and Government Funding Solutions, which provide the public with free grant packages which contain information about grant programs. They’re helpful tools meant to inform you about how to find, prepare a grant request, and finally apply for a grant for your specific small business.

Before you begin the grant process, it is good to become familiar with the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) regulations for receiving grants. Although the SBA doesn’t actually provide any grants, they do provide individuals with resources to help them find an eligible grant.

Another very important thing to familiarize yourself with is the 13 CFR 143 documentation. The 13 CFR 143 lists all the requirements of an individual and/or individual business to be eligible for a grant. This document also provides information about all aspects of small business grant application as well as information about the pre-award and post-award periods of the grant process. As the primary source of rules and regulations of small business grants, it is a must read for anyone seeking a small business grant.

Once one has educated themselves about the grant process, rules, regulations, and requirements, they must then write a grant request. This can be done by the individual themselves, or by a professional grant writer. One extremely helpful site is ‘Afterschool.gov’ which focuses on writing grant proposals for after school programs. Although it is geared towards a specific niche, it offers general tips on grants for small business and writing grant proposals.

Finding Grants for Small Business can be very challenging, but aside from the resources listed above, there is a wealth of information and organizations, both private and government which provide grants and grant information. The Department of Transportation, for instance, provides small business grants for business with a focus on resolving the current problems with the federal-aid highway program; and The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration also has several small business grants for those who wish to focus on skills training, and general training programs. Finding grants for your small business can be difficult, but with a little dedication and education the prospective business owner can find the start-up funds they need.