Does anyone know of any grants or programs that help people start a buisness?

Question

my husbands dream is to own and open a customization shop ( for cars and things, like a garage/body shop) doese any one know how we can make this dream come true? without winning the lotto?

Answer 1

He needs to network with the right group of people. Finding a grant for a new business start can be a very daunting task. A friend of mine owns a business community with 10's of thousands of members! Post a Free Business profile in our community of 100% entrepreneurs and I will help get some contacts your way:

http://www.dirsbiz.com/lace44

Answer 2

You can also try this site, it give info on grants for businesses. Don't take out business loans, you don't want to start off that way. Hope the site helps. The google ads help as well believe it or not.  

Answer 3

Go to score.org and in the upper left hand corner, enter your zip code. On the next screen, you will find the SCORE chapter nearest you. Call them and arrange for a free meeting with a SCORE counselor.

Answer 4

http://grants.gov/

Answer 5

There are lots of grants available to people. Start by looking up your local SCORE office ( a free service by retired executives and sba related) be very careful with any company that helps you get grants for a fee a lot are a joke. Look at www.about-small-business.com, has some basic helpful small business info. The link provided in the other response looks like a good site as well.  

Answer 6

It is hard to find grants to start a business -- especially for this type of 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/... , 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/CO...

"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/CATALO...

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