where can i get a grant without having to pay a fee?

Question

i want to open my own business but i do not think i can get a loan for the amount that i want. i want to be able to get a large enough amount to buy the building and pay for everything else to go in it. i get lots of spam emails.. and i know that somewhere i can get a grant without having to join a website or order a cd with grant information. if anyone out ther has gotten a grant, please pass along the info. it will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

You actually stand a greater chance of getting a loan from the SBA http://www.sba.gov and not a grant.

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.

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

Try the Small Business Administration if you're in the United States. Also try your local bank: ask if they teach courses or if they know someone who does. The local chamber of commerce may have business coaches available who will coach you. But, generally speaking, you can't get money for nothing. Oh, and you don't need to buy the building.

If you want a quick education on this, with no effort, try watching the Rodney Dangerfield movie, "Back to School." There's a scene where he's taking a business class and between him and the professor you will learn a lot in a couple of minutes, and it will explain why you don't buy the building.

Answer 3

Personal presents and housing presents more often than not don't exist. There is also a state company in Michigan with a view to furnish you with a mortgage to support with a downpayment when you qualify, however they ordinarily would possibly not simply deliver you the cash.