Please give me an address or website or phone number to get this information! Can someone really get a grant to start a business, pay bills, etc.?
2006-07-23 23:07:57 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
It is hard to find grants to start a business or to pay bills. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.
Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.
Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.
Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...
"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."
Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show
Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program
Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.
One important note, though -- coffee shop is a business that requires capital and can hardly be started on a $5,000 budget. In fact, according to Bellissimo Coffee Infogroup, http://www.espresso101.com/coffee_faq.html you will need the following amounts to start your coffee shop business:
- Coffee Cart: Usual start-up cost is $20,000–$25,000 to open and stock.
- Kiosk: Depending on the size and what menu items are offered, it will usually cost between $50,000–$60,000.
- Coffee Drive-Thru: The cost of opening a drive-thru espresso business operation can vary dramatically, from the the very small units for less than $30,000 to anywhere between $80,000–$180,000 depending on how the shop looks.
- Sit Down: The cost of opening a sit-down coffee shop is comparable to the cost of opening an upscale drive-thru. Start-up costs for most 1200 sq. ft. coffee bars average $150,000 to $300,000.
You may want to read the following articles:
So, You Wanna Open a Coffee Shop http://www.restaurantreport.com/Departments/c_coffeeshop.html
EspressoBusiness.com (has a nice section on what to avoid in terms of coffee shop business) http://www.espressobusiness.com/
Links to various resources on starting a coffee business http://www.aboutcoffee.net/linkster/linkster.php?CID=9
Coffee Shop Sample Business Plan (free) http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-04/Coffee-House.html
For in-depth information, you may want to read the following books:
Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Coffee Bar (The Complete Idiot's Guide)by Linda Formichelli
Start and Run a Coffee Bar (Start & Run a)by Tom Matzen, Marybeth Harrison
How to Open a Financially Successful Coffee, Espresso & Tea Shop by Elizabeth Godsmark
FabJob Guide to Become a Coffee House Owner (FabJob Guides)by Tom Hennessey
ESPRESSO! Starting and Running Your Own Specialty Coffee Business by Joe Monaghan and Julie Sheldon Huffaker
2006-07-23 23:27:58 · answer #1 · answered by imisidro 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-12-23 20:27:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
imisidro gave you great information about grants. I wanted to give you some information about opening a coffee shop.
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.
I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.
Associations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.
Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:
* Ultimate Guide to Specialty Retail: How to Start a Cart, Kiosk or Store -- by Patricia Norins
* Start and Run a Coffee Bar by Tom Matzen, Marybeth Harrison
* Coffee Basics: A Quick and Easy Guide by Kevin Knox
* How to Open a Financially Successful Coffee, Espresso & Tea Shop by Elizabeth Godsmark
* ESPRESSO! Starting and Running Your Own Specialty Coffee Business by Joe Monaghan
There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.
Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
2006-07-24 05:09:08 · answer #3 · answered by TM Express™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No such things as grants for this. Only if you are doing a service that is in desperate need for a community could you possibly get a grant. Any site that promises you grants for a fee of $49.95 will be 100% scam. They will merely give you a copy that you can find at grants.gov...
2016-03-16 04:19:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend of a friend
who got a grant to open a day care.
She hired a professional grant writer, submitted her grant proposal to several businesses in the area where she wanted to open a day care.
One of the businesses that gave her a grant was a Honda parts packaging warehouse.
I think the key to getting grants is finding a need in your com unity that needs to be taken care of and getting local businesses involved.
Companies and businesses will write you a check as a tax write off ... not sure how it works...but instead of paying taxes they donate to their community and that's how you get a grant????
2006-07-23 23:34:46 · answer #5 · answered by List P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charity, but not a "for profit business".
This is only a rumor
2006-07-23 23:14:36 · answer #6 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋