Find A Relevant Grant
If you want to get a startup business grant, first you need to find a grant to apply for.
Maybe you already have one in mind. In that case, you can skip ahead to the next step. If you dont, its time to start looking. We have some tips on where to look .
Remember, though, that youre not just looking for any grant. Youre looking for a grant that you can use for your business. Most grants specify how the funds can be used. So if you want to buy equipment, for example, dont bother with grants that have to be used to hire more staff.
Once you think youve found a grant, its time to take a closer look at the application requirements.
Grants And Help For Your New Business
If youve launched a new business or become self-employed, help is at hand. Government support such as grants, low-cost business advice and mentoring will help you get off the ground.
Help from the government shouldnt be mistaken for free money. If your business is still young, most government assistance focuses on building your skills and knowledge, and linking you with advisors and networks.
There are many free or low-cost opportunities available if youre in the early stage of business.
The more fully formed your business idea is, the more help youll be able to get. Whether youre self-employed, own or run a business, its a good idea to do some business planning before you approach any advisors, mentors and funding officers.
Take Your Time With Applications
Grant applications can be long and grueling. Take it slowly when filling them out, and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by trying to rush them. A mistake on the application could cost you the grant, so make sure it’s time well spent by filling out the forms the right way.
Similarly, take your time developing your story before you start writing grant applications. Many grants may ask entrepreneurs to appeal to emotion in their applications, wanting to hear about the why” behind your motivation to grow a business besides financial gain. A confident story can be a great asset before embarking down a path of grant applications.
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Fedex Small Business Grant
FedEx hosts a small business grant contest to provide funding for ambitious entrepreneurs. The contest has tough competition, with nearly 18,000 applicants for the tenth annual grant in 2022.
- Award amount: $15,000$50,000
- How to apply: Visit the FedEx website for specific application details.
This grant is open to small business models with a story worth telling,” so if you plan to apply, pinpoint what makes your business unique.
Good For: Community Businesses
The Caleb Brown Venture Capital and Consulting Project hosts a $1,000 grant aimed at promoting and nurturing young urban entrepreneurs with vision who plan to rebuild local blocks, neighborhoods, and communities by providing training and jobs to the next generation. The grant is open to startups and young businesses in urban areas. This contest is run every monthsubmit your application by the 15th to enter.
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Free Grants And Grant Scams
If you receive information stating you qualify for a “free grant,” it’s probably a scam. Get information from the Federal Trade Commission so you can better recognize and avoid grant scams. If you have been a victim of a grant scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC.
Contact your state consumer protection office if you have purchased a book or paid a fee to get grant information and are not satisfied.
Where To Find Startup Grants
Now that you know how to get a startup business grant, how do you actually find one you want?
Mostly, youre going to have to put in some time and effort to look.
As we said earlier, we suggest looking locally if possible. Ask around at local small business development centers, business expos, and other places.
But yes, you can look online too. Thats how we found some of our favorite grants for startup businesses.
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Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship Grant
Designer Tory Burch has a fund with the goal of mentoring and uplifting women entrepreneurs across all walks of life.
- Award amount: $5,000
- How to apply: Visit the website for details on the fellowship program and the foundation itself.
In addition to a monetary grant, the Fellowship program offers a year-long education model with mentorship tailored to your needs. The foundation also offers a peer network of other recipients and a trip to Burch’s New York office.
Small Business Training Grants
While not strictly a grant, the government does offer funding for training through the National Skills Fund. Eligible adults can access free Level 3 training courses, from horticulture and hospitality to business management and digital skills.
You could also look into free courses, for example in bookkeeping to help you run your business smoothly.
If youre a larger company, the Help to Grow scheme is government-funded and offers free training in management and digital skills.
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How To Apply For Small Business Grants
The application process will vary depending on the grant youre applying for, however here are some general tips to get you started:
- talk to the body awarding the grant find out what theyre looking for and tailor your application to the objectives
- write a thorough business plan
- explain how youll use the money be specific here and show how the funding will help you grow your business
- apply early some grants have a limited pot of money so its always worth getting your application in as early as possible
- create a cashflow forecast this is useful for managing your business finance and is sometimes needed when applying for finance
Just starting out as a small business owner? Make sure you read our guide to starting a business and dont forget to organise business insurance.
Free Money From The Government
The federal government does not offer grants or free money to individuals to start a business or cover personal expenses, contrary to what you might see online or in the media. Websites or other publications claiming to offer “free money from the government” are often scams. Report them to the Federal Trade Commission.
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Consider Hiring A Grant Writer
Grant writing is an art, so consider hiring a grant writer. A grant writer will know what kind of language to use to make your application stand out, which can make quite the impact when you’re competing.
It’s worth noting that grant writers can be expensive. So, if you’re strapped for cash, you may want to hold off and consider taking some free grant writing courses instead.
Before applying to grant programs, ensure you’ve covered all your business’s legal bases and have a story to tell along with a business plan to show.
Get help managing your business.Get help managing your business.
About the Author
Grants For Starting A Small Business
Your life revolves around work you work tirelessly for years so that someone else gets to make more money. No, how would you like to make some money of your own? Wouldnt be great to have a business of your own? With assistance from the government, you can!
Funding for you Small Business
The United States Government is committed to proving an environment that encourages development and initiation of new business. For this, free money, small business loans and grants are provided by the government. This gives you the chance to start your own business and help it grow.
You can start your own business with assistance from the Federal government in the form of grants for starting a business. These grants for starting a small business include gov grants for a variety of measures. There are home business grants for counseling assistance and to acquire low-interest loans to defray the start-up costs for implementing your own business.
Lets say youre over 40 and have just lost your job. You have always wanted to open a retail business from your home. Perhaps youd like to start an affiliate marketing business over the Internet, or a retail shop to sell sporting wear. There are counseling government grants available through the Small Business Association to help you get started in your new career, something that youve longed to do for quite a while.
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Air Quality Grant Schemes
The government has made funding available to some local authorities in England that are introducing clean air zones. Eleven cities in the UK are launching some form of low emission zone in 2022, so you may be eligible for a grant to support your business with upgrading your vehicles or paying for the new charges.
Find out more about the air quality grant scheme.
Small Business Grants In England
The Local Enterprise Partnerships Network website lists the 38 regional Growth Hubs. Theyve been set up to provide business funding, support and guidance in their local areas.
They make it easier for business owners to find the support they need by bringing together all of the available national and local business support in one hub.
You can search for business support available in your local area on the LEP Network website.
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General Small Business Government Grant Guidelines And Requirements
The process of searching for grant opportunities for your small business, writing a proposal, and waiting to hear if you got the funding can be complicated and time-consuming. Before you start, be sure to read the eligibility requirements, be as truthful as possible in your proposal, and submit your applications on time. Its also important to remember these general guidelines:
- Grants are not provided for starting a business.
- Grant money is not to be used to pay off debts or to cover operating expenses
- State and local grants provided by the federal government are awarded to organizations that assist with economic developments
Small Business Technology Transfer Program
Small Business Technology Transfer Programs are similar to SBIRs but focused on the technology industry. This grant is issued to businesses in the technology industry.
- Award amount: Phase 1, $50,000$250,000 for six months or one year Phase 2, $750,000 for two years .
- How to apply: Apply with a specific solicitation if you meet industry requirements.
These grants help fund innovative technological advancement in many fields with the intention of boosting the economy.
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Minority Business Development Agency
The Minority Business Development Agency helps grow minority business enterprises through its programs, services, and funding.
- Award amount: Up to $350,000 initial grant
- How to apply: Visit the website for more information.
The MBDA offers business centers across the nation that offer high quality, technical assistance to minority business enterprises,” according to its site. Entrepreneurs can receive mentoring, counseling, and assistance with funding and growth.
Small Business Grants: Here Are 23 You Can Apply For In 2022
Its a difficult time for small businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak. However, governments at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as private companies may give out grants. Researching and applying for funding requires time and effort, but if you are successful in getting a grant, everything is worthwhile. Here is a breakdown of small business grants to get you started.
Author: Dale Cudmore
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Who doesnt like free money? Thats what small business grants are, right?
It could help you pay salaries, buy stock, or reach new customers.
While grants are free in the sense that you dont have to pay them back, theyre not handouts.
You cant just go to a website and ask for one small business grant please, and expect to get it.
You must apply for a grant, which can take a decent amount of work and effort. Then, youre up against other small businesses that also want the grant. Its common for even small grants to get hundreds of applicants. That said, a list of small business grants is a good starting point.
Ive compiled a list of 23 small business grants, but before I get to that, there are 3 more things you should understand:
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Types Of Small Business Grants
There are several types of grants, and you may only be eligible for certain ones. Grants generally come from the following sources:
- Federal state or local governments
Government grants are often the most involved, while grants made by businesses may include a competition aspect.
Here weve rounded up examples of some popular grants in these categories. However, dont limit your search to just these grants. Weve also included several research tools you can use to find grants that may be a fit for your business.
Small Business Grants For Young People
The Princes Trust supports young people aged 18 to 30 to start and run their own business. Besides funding and resources, they also provide training and mentoring.
In 2020, in response to Covid-19, The Princes Trust set up a £5 million Enterprise Relief Fund, offering grants to self-employed people and business owners aged between 18 and 30 in the UK.
While this is now closed for applications, The Princes Trust runs an Enterprise Course, which involves info sessions and workshops to help you launch your business. You can apply for low-interest business loans between £500 and £5,000, and the Princes Trust says small business grants may be available in special circumstances.
If youre an entrepreneur whos building a solution to social problems in the UK, check out UnLtd awards. If youre 16 or older, willing to participate in learning, and working for the benefit of others, UnLtd could help you start out. They offer awards from £500 to £15,000 across two separate startup packages.
Wondering what mentoring is all about? Read our article on the benefits of having a mentor for your small business to learn more.
Just starting your business? Read our side hustle guide for students to help plan where you want to go with your business and what funding you might need to get started.
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Make Sure You Qualify
Most grants require applicants to meet certain eligibility requirements.
For example, the grant-giving organization might require you to have a for-profit business. The requirements can get much more specific than that though. Take the Asian Women Giving Circle Grant. Applicants must be Asian American women with a nonprofit in New York City.
So before you start an application, make sure you and your business meet all the relevant requirements for your grant of choice. Otherwise, you could waste time on a grant youll never get.
Now, the good news is that most grants stick to demographic qualifications or industry qualificationsthings about you or the area you work in. They dont, however, usually care about things like your personal credit score. Likewise, you wont find too many grants that have strict revenue or time in business qualifications.
That means you can often qualify for grants even if you cant qualify for business loansmaking grants great for startup funding.
When youre sure you qualify for the grant you want, youre ready to begin your application. After all, grants dont get handed out willy-nilly to anyone who wants themyou have to win them.
Assistance For Small Businesses
The COVID-19 public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have created a variety of challenges for small, micro, and solo businesses in communities across the country. The Treasury Department is providing critical assistance to small businesses across the country, facilitating the urgent deployment of capital and support to help these organizations not just persevere, but recover on solid footing.
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What Is A Small Business Grant
A grant is financial assistance that is given to a person, business, nonprofit, or corporation from federal, state, county, or local governments, or private businesses or corporations. There are a number of companies, nonprofits, and government agencies providing essentially funding to small business owners in the form of a small business grant. And the best part? Grants do not require repayment of any kind.
Grants can be formed to target businesses based on a variety of factors, including minority-owned businesses, specific for-profit businesses as well as non-profit organizations, veteran-owned businesses, grants for women entrepreneurs, and more.
You dont have to make your pitch on Shark Tank, refinance your home, or take out small business loans to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey business grants may help you get there, if you know where to look and how to apply.
Weve pulled together numerous resources for business owners searching for small business grant opportunities. The majority of these have broad grant application requirements, meaning many businesses qualify.
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Dos And Donts Of Winning Business Grants
Lets start with some basic dos and donts of trying to win grants.
Do:
- Make a schedule several grants are only open to applications once a year. Give yourself enough time to put together an application well before the due date.
- Write a business plan first most grants will ask for one. More importantly, you should know exactly how the grant money will help your enterprise. Heres our guide to writing a simple business plan.
- See what companies have been funded in the past this can help you determine which grants you have a better chance of winning. If theyve funded similar types of businesses, thats a good sign.
- Get help from community business organizations I went through many types of organizations that provide assistance to small business owners. This includes helping you find grants and presenting your company in the best light.
- Consider professional help if you come across a grant that requires a well-written cover letter or essay, consider hiring a professional grant writer if you can afford it. Its usually only worth it for big grants.
Dont:
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