Grants for Small Businesses

Starting a new business can take lots of capital that may not be available.  It is possible to apply for grants if you are willing to do the research and have the criteria that grant-giving organizations are looking for.  Many small businesses are turned down on grant applications simply because the request was not filled out properly.  Others fail to submit to matching organizations for consideration.  Learn everything that you can about grants before embracing the process.


are given by individuals, government entities and private institutions that want to make money available to further a cause.  The government is the least likely to consider small businesses for grants.  Medicine, education, technology and scientific research are the government's main focus geared mainly at nonprofits and educational centers.  If a new business is going to better the community with green energy, your chances of finding an individual or institution offering grants are good.  If, on the other hand, you want to start a daycare center or a clothing retail shop, a grant is not the place to look.

Many think that a small business loan and a grant are similar but they are miles apart.  A small business loan may loan you the money if you are personally creditworthy and charge a certain percent of interest.  A grant never has to be paid back.  Working toward a goal that is set by the grant giver is all that is asked.  Most grants are to be utilized by an entity that will work toward new technologies or provide a service to the public through a nonprofit classification.  Hardly ever do they offer the money necessary to start a new business.

Small businesses that have a history of working toward a sustainable goal of developing new ideas can qualify for non-government grants.  There are also many grants that target certain nationalities, sexual orientation and other discriminating factors.  By meeting these qualifications, your chances are higher than those who do not.  If you can pass this first hurdle, there is still much work to do.  You have to lay out a plan with objectives that you want to meet and sometimes, provide counterpart funding.

There are thousands of grants given to small businesses each year but it takes perseverance to wade through the grants available and then try to meet the objectives just to file.  But if you have a goal and a great start to make a better world, the time and effort is worth it.  There are tons of sites on the Internet that offer ways to find grants for small businesses in your particular category.  If you belong to a minority group, the search can be even faster.
Grants provide a way to help small businesses and individuals advance in areas that can benefit the economy, alternative energy, the arts, curving pollution and much more.  If you feel that your field of study is not worthy of a grant, look around.  You will be surprised at the selection.