Tag Archives: business start ups

Small Business Grants: What You Need to Know

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Small business is categorized by its small capital, productivity, manpower and profit. Some of the small business start ups are self financed. But most of them are financed by borrowing of money. In order to prevent higher down payment of interest to banks, the Government of many countries provide the small business grant. The small business grant helps the entrepreneur to receive the principle amount without having to worry about the future repayment of it.

The small business grants help in boosting the growth of small firms since the financial aid received from is a stable and reliable source. Small business grants are mostly obtained from the national Government or from the state or local authorities. Some industrial organizations or established corporations also provide such grants but are not always desirable.

Small business grants provide limited funding. The funding is targeted in specific areas. The main area is principal amount where capital investment is very low or unavailable. Small business grants are also provided for business related to farming, fishery or husbandry. The small business grant is targeted towards funding for hiring of manpower or for purchasing of new machinery and other equipments. If a separate building is required then the small business grant is directed towards purchasing of the land and constructing of the required structure. For more established businesses, the small business grants provide financing for research and development and improvement of technology. Furthermore, small business grants are provided for small businesses with foreign exports to enhance international trade.

In order to avail the small business grant, a well drafted business plan is submitted to the Government or authority providing the grant. Usually the loan provider is the Small Business Administration. The borrower should clearly mention the areas where the grant money will be invested. It is expected that 50-85% of the grant money should be invested into the business. The small business grant is approved subjected to guarantee. Upon approval, the credit analysis is done and the final report is submitted to the business lender. The lender directly disburses the amount to the small business owner. The loan repayment is done on monthly installment basis to the business lender.

In the US, obtaining a small business grant for start up businesses is rare. It is provided only for selected category of businesses, especially those into higher technology. It is a time consuming procedure for the companies to obtain the small business grants. Hence such start up companies approach major corporations that provide the small business grants.

In UK, obtaining small business grants is relatively easier. The best source for small business grant in UK is the Princes Youth Business trust. They provide entrepreneurs aged 18-30 years with grants of £1500-£5000. For start up businesses, the trust provides £250 for marketing and research work. In order to qualify for the small business grant, the individual should prove the non availability of capital and ensure that no other organization has provided the required funding. Also the trust should be satisfied with the business plan that has been submitted by the business owner.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.bigstrategies.co.uk

Small Business Grants for Women Starting a New Business

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If you as a woman own 51% or more of your business or business start up it is considered a woman-owned business and as such qualifies you for a variety of small business grants for women. The beauty of going this route instead of the more well known bank loan or finding willing investors route is the simple fact that business grants do not need to be repaid.

This of course helps relieve the stress of paying back that loan or the group of investors that fronted you the money to get your business off the ground. Being able to concentrate solely on your business without worrying about cash flow is a sure fire way to ensure its success.

This is important when you consider that the vast majority of small business start-ups are being done by women every year. Not only that but women are also 75% more likely to succeed in their business venture then men are. Because of this there are more and more resources becoming available for the woman who starts or owns her own business. Everything from small business grants and loans to free business plan help and tax strategies can be had for any woman in business.

When considering getting grants for women owned businesses there are four things that can make the process quicker and easier.

1. Create a workable business plan – This can be the most important part of any new business start-up. In fact most grant applications require a business plan so that the grantors can make an informed decision as to who receives a grant and who doesn’t.

2. Grant research – There are literally thousands of government and private grants available to women business owners. Some are for specific areas of business while others are more general. It is also important to find out what the requirements for each grant you may be interested are.

3. Hire a professional – Finding an accountant or lawyer who is familiar with the grant request and application process can greatly increase the chances of success. They can help with everything from building the business plan to double checking all the paper work before it is submitted to the granting agency.

4. The internet – There are many websites that help the woman grant seeker find the grant or grants that she is looking for. They also provide an abundance of information on successfully applying for the different grants that they track. These sites can be a great resource for the woman trying to start a new business.

Finding small business grants for women can be done quickly and easily on the internet. To successfully apply for those same grants will take some time and effort but the payoff is well worth it when you consider that the government and private organizations are giving away billions of dollars every year.

To learn more about finding and applying for small business grants for women please click here.

Where To Find Small Business Grants For Your Start-Up

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Grants are given every year for a variety of reasons, from small business start-ups, continuing education, preserving historic monuments, to art. Business grants are usually given to applicants that have a solid business plan, and the more detailed the reports are, the better chance of getting the grant.

When starting up your own small business, the first priority would be to find start-up capital. The best capital to get is the small business grants such as free grants that you never have to pay back, or other types of grants that are more like loans and require repayment with interest.

New business owners and existing business owners are eligible to apply for business grants. There is a wide array of Federal business grants available such as Free Government Money for Minorities, Free Government Money for Women, and Obtain Free Government Money for equipment, rent, offices, expenses and overhead

There are numerous sources to find the best business grants:

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a major provider of business grant money.
The Federal Register is another good source to help you keep current with the continually changing federal grants offered.
FedBizOpps is another great resource, as all federal agencies must use FedBizOpps to notify the public about contract opportunities worth over $25,000.
The U.S. Government’s Grants has its own website where you can find, obtain information and apply for many of the grants that are available.
Government’s Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) provides a listing of Government grants and other types of assistance that you can receive.

Federal law mandates that government agencies and private foundations give away over 1 trillion dollars to individuals and businesses. Foundations are required by law to distribute 5 percent of their market value assets or interest income annually, whichever of these amounts is greater, or risk losing their tax-exempt status.

The incentive for giving away grants is great. First, elected officials seeking reelection give away billions in government cash so that people vote for them; second, big corporations save a lot of money in taxes by giving money to foundations.

Another option when starting your business would be to apply for private grants from foundations and corporations. Foundations award grants to businesses that are able to help the foundation reach its long-term goals. In the United States there are more than 65,000 private grant foundations which award more than $20 billion to applicants. Two good resources for private grants are the Foundation Center and the Council on Foundations.

For more on Business Grants visit Small Business Grants. Susan also enjoys writing at Health and Fitness.