I want to start a business but I don't make enough money to support one?Why is it so hard to obtain a grant?

Question

People say I should apply for grants but there confusing and I CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THEM. What should I do?
Loans are kind of easy to get but a pain to pay off.

Answer 1

That's because, no matter what people say, no one who has any money really wants to give it away for free! You have to be very, very knowledgeable about your proposed business and able to prove you can get a return on their investment -- and there is a lot of competition. The best way to get start-up capital is probably a no-interest loan from a relative, and even then you should have a solid business plan before you approach him or her. You have to remember that a majority of businesses fail within the first three years and you are talking about people's livlihood when you are talking about taking their money.

Answer 2

You need to check out j4bgrants.co.uk - its all about how and where small business and new start ups can claim government/ local authority etc. grants or soft loans. You can do a free search and it will tell you what grants are available in your area, for the type of business you want to set up or run.

Answer 3

Buy a lawnmower and start a mowing business or a jet washer and wash peoples drives and things. You can mow my lawn any time. The jet wash business does well in up market areas where they have long drives! if you are under 30 try the Princes Trust for a grant.

Answer 4

I don t need a long speech.

I will recommend the following website:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk (their website is full of idea of how to start up your business). Depend where you live, they might offer private advice face to face...some other branches...only over the phone.

http://www.startups.co.uk

and the Business Angels Association

http://www.bbaa.org.uk/portal/

Answer 5

Depending on your business - you don't need a lot of cash to start, say, a window cleaning round, you would need a fair bit to open a shop!
Mail [e-mail] for advice!

Answer 6

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 starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups -- minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include

Iowa Women's Foundation http://www.iawf.org/
New Mexico Women's Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.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."

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.

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

I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business:

Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572484500/powerhomebizguid
Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0808007386/powerhomebizguid
Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580626815/powerhomebizguid
The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158062202X/powerhomebizguid
Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471690635/powerhomebizguid
Financing Your Small Business (Barron's Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764124897/powerhomebizguid

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . 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 7

you dont seem to have the business acrumen. if you cant understand basic maths take off your socks

Answer 8

http://www.selfemployedhelp.co.uk/