I recently went online and researched information about government grants. I found the government website but it doesn’t have an entire list of grants offered from what I am being told by other companies. Some websites say that they will help you with the process and tell you what you qualify for but that you first have to pay them almost $300 in fees for their assistance? I find that hard since government grants are suppose to be free yet companies are saying they will help but for a fee. Can anyone give me a good overview on how to pursue grants, where to look for what I qualify for, and what to expect, etc., etc.? I have a small retail business that has been open for over a year now & I want to expand. I appreciate any help anyone can offer.
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I hate to break it to you, but there are realtively few grants to start or expand a small business. In reality, you probably are not going to find any grants for your business. State and federal agencies, as well as non-profit foundations, do make grants, and some of that money may even go to businesses. However, the vast of majority of grant funding is to support projects which are expected to provide a benefit to the public. You may find some information on grants in the Financial Assistance section and you may possibly find additional grants here at grants.gov.
There is free advice advice in adbundance. Consider it a grant of time and expertise free or at low-cost to you. Several agencies provide their expertise. Check in to SCORE—Counselors to America’s Small Business at or the Small Business Development Centers at.
In some cases you will find that your community has a revolving loan fund. These are low interest loans made to businesses that are creating jobs. You will need to be credit worthy and bring assets to use as collateral with you into this financing arrangement. Unfortunately, there is no central source that says which communities maitain these revolving loan funds. Check with your local planning office or state economic development entity.
Here’s a link to a program that has a nice user interface and let’s you search for grants & guaranteed loans using several criteria. It’s a free program now, although I believe I paid $49.95 for it in 2002.
I haven’t submitted any grant proposals yet, but for someone seriously looking for an avenue to do so, this might be one of the better ways. Best of luck with your venture…
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I would be EXTREMELY WARY of companies that claim you can get grants for whatever purpose you want because that is absolutely false and not how federal grants work. And I would be SCARED all the more that this company wants you to apply for grants through them because there is only ONE site where you can apply for grants legitimately – and that is Grants.gov
You may also want to read the warnings FTC has issued against these “grant” companies:
Here is also one of the warnings issued by the Better Business Bureau
It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK – lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.
Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.
Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website
“The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments.”
Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE’S NONE.
Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program
Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs