Small Business Start Up Grants

Small business start up grants can be as elusive as the battersnatch. There are two words here that you need to deal with: "small" and "start up". These two words don't often appear in the same sentence as "grants". So you will forge your own path.

A grant is tough to come by in business, especially in the rough economic times we have been in lately. So accept that you probably cannot walk into your local SBA and fill out a form for a grant. It is not going to happen.

Grants are created by government agencies and non-profit agencies to meet a specified need in the community. Grants are not there to help you; they are there to help the community. That is a very important consideration.

So the first question you need to ask is, What can I do to help the community?

Let's look at a few things that might help the community.

Start a Restaurant. IF you opt to hire young people from the neighborhood who need training in cooking, waiting on tables, cleaning up, and everything else that goes with running a restaurant, then you might have a chance. Or if you can tie this to helping the homeless you've got a good chance. Just another restaurant on Main Street won't get you a grant.

Start a Newspaper. I know of one group in southern California that puts out a neighborhood newspaper on the streets. It is completely created by homeless people, and all the proceed go to them. That is the kind of newspaper that may get you a grant.

Open a Factory. And hire local workers who need training, even homeless people. If you can demonstrate how it will help the community, you've got a chance at a grant.

There are hundreds of other businesses that you might open, even small business, and get start up grants. The key is: Improve the community.

Okay, you've got your business in mind. Now where do you go?

Odds are that there isn't a project on the books anywhere in any government that will match your business plans. And in order for government or charities to spend money, the project must be approved by upteen layers of directors. Getting the attention of the those directors, and fashioning a project that they like is the real secret to small business start up grants. Nobody is going to walk out the door and give it to you. You have to open the door yourself and make it happen.

Step Two In Capturing Small Business Start Up Grants

Simple: Be professional. Just because you've spoken with the director of public works does not mean he can approve your project. He will need it in hard copy, just like a business plan, with the major aspects set out in writing: