I have read a variety of different things that tend to contradict one another. Some say that they are grants available to start up a business, and other say there are not. I know there may be private grants available but tracking them down is very difficult and then there those that want to sell you information for obtaining a grant which I find tend to be a scam in many cases. Are there legitimate grants available for starting a business?

If so are they usually by private grantors or are there federal grants available? And what are some resources (legitimate) to tap in order to gather more information about obtaining a small business start up grant? I am willing to do the leg work, I just do not want to be wasting my efforts on an opportunity that is not legitimate. Input please?????

>I have read a variety of different things that tend to
>contradict one another. Some say that they are grants
>available to start up a business, and other say there are not.
> I know there may be private grants available but tracking
>them down is very difficult and then there those that want to
>sell you information for obtaining a grant which I find tend
>to be a scam in many cases. Are there legitimate grants
>available for starting a business?
>
>If so are they usually by private grantors or are there
>federal grants available? And what are some resources
>(legitimate) to tap in order to gather more information about
>obtaining a small business start up grant? I am willing to do
>the leg work, I just do not want to be wasting my efforts on
>an opportunity that is not legitimate. Input please?????

If you want to take a look at examples of grants that are available to start a business just take a look at my Grant Basics 101 blog at:

http://grantbasics101.blogspot.com

I started that blog because like you people have a lot of questions about grants in general.

In a word grant programs do exist to help one start a business. However it is going to depend on a lot of things - most namely the type of business that you want to start!

A lot of states have grant programs to help one start a business and the main reason is because they want to stimulate the economy in that state. A new business means new revenue and income for the state not to mention that a new business will help to provide more jobs - and again the taxes that are paid on some of that income go to the states as well thus boosting their economy.

There are also a number of grant programs that are not on a state level but on a national level. Some cater to minorities and women and some are open to all ethnic groups.

I do grant research for a living and I can tell you that you would be amazed at the number of grant programs that are out there. One of the most popular questions seem to be about grant programs that help people pay their student loans and there are grant programs like that!

Grant programs are not just offered by the government but by foundations, organizations and even big business so there are a lot of grant sources out there.

One of my most recent clients was a woman who operates a daycare center who was looking for grants for her for-profit daycare. Ten pages of information I sent her - all about grant programs for a for-profit daycare - and I have seen many such "professional" sites that say such grant programs don't exist!

To answer your question specifically, yes there are grant programs out there to help one start a business. But first the type of business that you want to start has to established and then you will have a better idea of what kind of grant programs you should be looking for.

Another thing that you should know too is that 90% of all grant program information I have found online!

Hi,

Since so many entrepreneurs are looking for grants, we've tried to lay out the possibilities in Idea Cafe's Small Business Grant Center.

We even offer our own grants (when we can afford to).
https://www.businessownersideacafe.com/business_grants/index.php

Cheers,
Cyberhost at Idea Cafe
The Fun Place for Serious Business(sm)
:)