I have lots of actual restaurant work and I used to own a small catering company where we specialized in events of 250 or less. I don't want/can't get a loan, I need grant money. Any Ideas America???
2007-05-22 10:51:51 · 6 answers · asked by clove2020 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
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/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html
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"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."
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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.
2007-05-24 03:09:11 · answer #1 · answered by imisidro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About the only government grants I know of is in cities that want to rebuild their downtowns. A catering service wouldn't fit this model, because it won't drive business into downtown. But, I would start at city hall or your county courthouse. Forget state and federal grants. One person said that there weren't grants available to for-profit organizations ... this is incorrect. There are indeed grants available to for-profits, but they're all innovation grants (I've been successful in getting 2 for clients).
2007-05-22 16:06:54 · answer #2 · answered by jdkilp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no grants for a for profit company. That's just another urban myth. If you're against getting a business loan, forget about opening up a cafe.
2007-05-22 11:20:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no such thing as grant money for a business. that is a myth. if it was true, why wouldn't everyone own their own business?
only sources are....
1. your pocket
2. friends, family
3. investors
4. bank, loan
sorry, no magic agency nor form to fill out to get free cash nor a gov loan, for a small business loan is just a loan through a bank, nothing special about it. still takes credit and collateral.
2007-05-22 11:55:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, she has a very insightful outlook on life. I seem to remember hearing her on National Public Radio and she always seems to have an interesting outlook on things. Here a a few from my own personal list that I would add: Remember, tomorrow is going to be a new day. I doesn't cost you a penny to say 'thank you'. Life can be hard - show compassion to others and to oneself. Sometimes it’s better to make up your own rules. Dance like no one is watching you - even though they probably are. A good song on the accordion makes everything better.
2016-04-01 02:59:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried going to www.score.org? They have a lot of information on starting small businesses and could point you in the right direction, not just in getting money to open the business, but in running it as well.
2007-05-22 11:29:34 · answer #6 · answered by Cindou 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋