Grants and Scholarships

100's of places advertise Small Business Grants/Loans. Are any of these worth the application or money?

I own a small business. It is an ebay drop center. My start up costs were brutal and I am having a hard time paying these costs and putting every cent profit back into the business. Our business is booming. We actually have alot more that expected with business doubling each week. Problem is I am a single mother of 5. I am in my late 20's with Not so good credit. I haven't been able to take home any profits yet. Christmas time is a booming time for ebay and I am finding myself with the decision of closing. I receive $400.00 a month child support if it comes, and it's getting pretty hard to raise five children on this income alone. I was thinking if I got a business loan I would be able to catch up and expand in the future. Maybe hire some employees so I can spend time at home again. I looked into grants. Not that I want free money, but for a little help. Cheapest place to help me wanted almost $500. Any ideas from anyone??

Public Comments

1. They're all scams, you can apply for an SBA (small business administration) loan at any bank. You need to have all your ducks in a row. Most importantly, the SBA wants to see a business plan. Go to your bank, they can fill you in on all the requirements. As a single mother, you're at an advantage as you, and of course illegal aliens are looked favaorably upon by government lending.
2. Grants are hard to come by, but there may be ones that meet your situation. Go to http://www.grants.gov for a list of government grants and how you can apply for them.
3. AVOID THEM -- they are SCAMS 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.
4. If your Business is booming then cut back on some of your expenses they may be too high, unnecessarily, find a place with a lower rent cost or just use a storage warehouse until your capital is in the area you want it If you still want to get a loan the grant guides at this site should be of great help. http://tinyurl.com/2kaacc