I would like to start my own home based business, can I get a grant?

Question

I was going to enter into a business partnership with my cousin and her husband told her no so I said I'll just start from home and work on expanding that way. I was wonderingif anyone knew where I could get a business line of credit or a grant to get the startup?

Answer 1

You stand a greater chance of getting other sources of funds to start a business than grants

Your Credit Card

Using Credit Cards to Finance Your Startup
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290366,00.html
Credit Where Credit Is Due: Using Plastic to Finance Your Start-Up http://www.inc.com/articles/1999/08/16625.html

Your Family Members and Friends

Accepting Start-Up Capital from a Family Member: Good or Bad?
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/2006/08/accepting-start-up-capital-from-family.html
Borrowing Startup Funds From Friends & Family http://www.entrepreneur.com/Your_Business/YB_Node/0,4507,159,00.html

Microloan program which provides loans up to $35,000
SBA Microloan Program http://www.sba.gov/financing/sbaloan/microloans.html

SBA Loan http://www.sba.gov/financing

It is hard to find grants to start a business. 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.

Answer 2

Grants, are usually awarded depending on the nature of your business. If your business is about developing new technology or is about security, securing free federal money is easier. Also, getting a loan can be a challenge as well because banks want to see that your business has some level of financial viability before it gives you money. It is usually a challenge to get funds for a start up. However, this is not to say that there are not funds out there, you just have to look a little harder.

Click this link for a listing of useful resources

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=98864,00.html

Also, http://www.sba.gov/ is a wonderful resource you should use. There are offices through out the country where former business professionals offer free counseling for your business.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Depending on what type of home based business you want to start up will depend on if you need to get a loan or not.
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Answer 5

You have a better chance of taking out a loan than anything else. Here is a link to all of the government programs that you can take advantage of and that can support you on your way: http://www.nomorecubes.com/goverment-resources/

Also here is a matching site that matches new businesses with entrepreneurs http://www.nomorecubes.com/blog/finding-the-money-small-business-funding.html

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

There is no such thing as free money. You will have to dig into your pockets or look for investors to start your own business just like the rest of us did.

Answer 7

If you have a business plan, apply to the SBA, also contact the SCORE people to get some pointers on the business plan. I think you can do it. Just need to talk to the right people. Good luck.

Answer 8

Your local Chamber of Commerce can help you with that. They usually require you take some course and have a business plan.
http://www.entrepreneur.com Lots of info on starting up a business.

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Answer 9

Send me the pillow that you dream on. You can get a loan if somebody will put their house up as collateral.

Answer 10

The following websites have job boards, maybe helpful for you.
http://www.usejob.com
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com
http://www.craigslist.org