Business Grants Basics
Benefits of Small Business Grants
- Grants are an excellent alternative for small business entrepreneurs since they provide free money.
- There are numerous small business grants available. Some are open to all business owners, while others are restricted to women, minorities, or low-income entrepreneurs.
- Small business subsidies have numerous advantages.
- You don't have to pay them back.
- They frequently come with continuous support in the shape of training or advice.
- Grant recipients receive a lot of notoriety for their firm.
- However, there are several disadvantages to business grants.
“Free” Doesn’t Mean Without Cost
- Grants are deemed free money since they do not require repayment.
- However, this does not mean that grants are free.
- Grants for small businesses are quite competitive.
- You could squander a lot of time and money applying for funding that you will never receive.
- There is no guarantee of a return on your investment of time and application expenses.
- Some awards have a lengthy and demanding application process that includes a detailed pitch, videos, and costly travel.
- The time and effort you put into applying for grants is not always worth the slim probability of success.
There are Limited Options for Certain Circumstances
- There aren't as many business grants as you may assume, but if you know where to look, you can find some good ones.
- Excellent resources include:
- The Small Business Administration
- Local Small Business Development Centers
- Grants.gov
Many Grants are Only for Specific Types of Businesses and Owners
- Even with grant options, the range of choices accessible to you depends on your situation.
- Some awards, for example, are solely available to businesses engaged in research and development.
- Other grants are intended to help minority or female-owned small companies.
- These requirements limit prospects for people who do not fall into one of these categories while increasing competition for those who do.
Small Business Innovation Research Program
- This award is intended to support profitable scientific research and development.
- The company must be based in the United States.
- The company must be owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent resident aliens at least 50% of the time.
- There can also be no more than 500 employees in the company.
Amber Grant
- The Amber Grant provides a $10,000 reward to a woman-owned business each month.
- At the end of the year, one of the recipients will get an additional $25,000 grant.
- Applicants must share their story and pay a $15 application fee to be considered.
Cartier Women’s Initiative Award
- This prize is also open to female entrepreneurs.
- There is a regional category prize and a science and technology award for the Cartier Women's Initiative Award.
- The regional prize is $100,000 for first place and $30,000 for second and third place.
First Nations Development Institutes
- This organization aims to provide grants to Native Americans, Alaskans, and Hawaiians.
- They not only provide funding but also assist with the application process, which includes crafting grant bids.
- First Nations also assists individuals in locating appropriate funds offered by other organizations, including the US government.
National Black MBA Association Scale-Up Pitch Challenge
- According to the NBMBAA, its mission is to assist new enterprises with African American ownership.
- This is a startup pitch competition with cash awards ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.
The Minority Business Development Agency
- The United States Department of Commerce manages the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).
- This group is dedicated to assisting minority-owned businesses in obtaining the resources they require to grow and prosper.
- Grant competition requirements vary regularly, so be sure to check the MBDA's website for the most up-to-date information.
- Currently, the MBDA assists its members in applying for funding through Grants.gov.
- This is especially useful because many business owners struggle with the grant application procedure.
You Can Find Grants in Surprising Places
- The government and organizations dedicated to assisting minority, woman, and veteran-owned firms are the first places most business owners look for funding.
- Grants can sometimes be found in unexpected locations.
- Some larger corporations, for example, provide small company grants.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
- This contest is available to any company that has been in business for at least six months and has 99 or fewer employees.
- Every year, they provide
- Eight $7,500 fellowships
- One $15,000 grant
- One $25,000 grant
National Association for the Self-Employed
- This is a $4,000 award available to NASE members.
- This award can be used to fund
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Personnel hiring
- Facility expansion
- Specialized business needs
A Grant is Not Enough to Fund a Business Long Term
- Small business grants are insufficient to properly fund a business.
- Grants are often one-time awards, and the odds of getting one are slim due to severe competition.
- Credit Line Hybrid is an outstanding backup finance strategy for your business.
Credit Line Hybrid
- This is a type of unsecured business loan.
- The interest rate on a Credit Line Hybrid is lower than that of a secured loan.
- You can obtain some of the largest loan amounts and credit lines available for enterprises.
- With indicated income, you can even receive 0% business credit cards.
- Credit Line Hybrid submits reports to commercial CRAs.
- You can create business credit, which will allow your company to access further finance with no personal guarantee.
- To be approved for this program, you must have a credit score of at least 680 or a guarantor with acceptable credit.
- There are no financial requirements for acceptance.
- You can frequently obtain a loan for five times the existing greatest revolving credit limit account, which is up to $150,000.
Don’t Give Up on Applying for Grants
- You should not rely on small business grants as a sure source of money, but you should apply if the time and application fees are balanced by the potential reward.
- In either case, it is quite improbable that you will receive enough funds to adequately fund your business in the long run.
Grants are Supplement Not Support
- Grants are most successful when used as supplemental funding.
- First, secure dependable business funding, such as Credit Line Hybrid.
- Then, if you are fortunate enough to be awarded a grant, utilize it to supplement your existing funds and lower your overall business debt.
Tips When Applying to Small Business Grants
1. Apply for the Right Grants
- Take note of the grants you apply for.
- If you are not eligible for a grant, do not apply.
- Grants that are tailored to a specific need lessen competition.
- Apply only if the prospective prize is worth the effort and money spent on the application procedure.
2. Study Requirements Carefully
- Make sure you are capable of completing the grant application requirements.
- For example, if you need to go to present your pitch to the grant committee in person, make sure you can cover the costs.
3. Turn in All Required Documents
- If you do not provide all of the needed documentation, your application will be refused.
- Grant committees may not even contact you if your information is inaccurate.
- You may never realize that all of your efforts were in vain.
- You avoid this, make sure to double-check all of your documents before submitting your application packet.