How to Get a Small Business Grant

By: Connie Earl Robertson

Many times someone will tell you that you should apply for a federal small business grant in order to start your own business. Sadly, that is not true for most people. The federal government awards very few grants, and most of those are for a business that will in some way aid science or the government. Here is some help on how to get a small business grant.

Even though it is nearly impossible to get a small business grant from the federal government, there may exist some other possibilities to help you get started. On a state level, many of the state developmental agencies are designed to help entrepreneurs start or enlarge their small business. In some states, there may even be private institutions that do the same.

Most small business grants are not for businesses that make money. The majority of them are for nonprofit organizations. Regardless of what type of business you are in, if you are able to get a grant, it will mean a lot of paperwork.

The U. S. Small Business Administration doesn't have grants for small private businesses. If you want to go a different route, it does offer a variety of different types of small business loans. Of course, this means that, like any loan, you will have to pay the lender back, but it will help you get the money you need to start or expand your small business.

Regardless of how many web sites or books you find on how to get a small business grant, the possibility of actually receiving one is almost nonexistent. Most of these grants are designed for nonprofit organizations, minority groups or large groups of people who have been through a catastrophe where they lost their businesses. If you are not included in one of these groups, you'll probably have to resign yourself to a small business loan instead.

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