U.S. Department of the Treasury

Assistance for small businesses.

The COVID-19 public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have created a variety of challenges for small, micro, and solo businesses in communities across the country. The Treasury Department is providing critical assistance to small businesses across the country, facilitating the urgent deployment of capital and support to help these organizations not just persevere, but recover on solid footing.  

Small Business Tax Credit Programs

The American Rescue Plan extends a number of critical tax benefits, particularly the Employee Retention Credit and Paid Leave Credit, to small businesses.

Emergency Capital Investment Program

The Emergency Capital Investment Programs support the efforts of low- and moderate-income community financial institutions

Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program is providing small businesses with the resources they need to maintain their payroll, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover applicable overhead.

government grant business plan

Small business grants: 20 options to apply for free funds for your business

No matter what kind of small business you own, there are grants available to help your business grow. Read on for details on grant options and databases.

Ready to start your business? Plans start at $0 + filing fees.

government grant business plan

by   LegalZoom staff

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Updated on: February 15, 2024 · 14min read

  • What are small business grants, and who is eligible to receive one?

Grants for starting a small business

Small business grants for women, small business grants for minority groups, business grants for veterans, business grants for startups, applying for a small business grant: 4 process tips.

Looking for a little financial assistance to help launch or grow your small business? Check out these grant opportunities—including LegalZoom’s Fast Break for Small Business grant program.

Small business grants offer funds to grow your business in a variety of ways. In many cases, you can use grants for things like operations, marketing, or expanding your team. Finding out which grants you may be eligible for is crucial so that you can start applying.

A small business owner takes measurements in her workshop for an architectural model.

In this article, we'll cover the basics of grants and give you tips about how to score more of them.

What are small business grants, and who is eligible to receive o ne?

small business grants infographic

Small business grants are amounts of seed money given to entrepreneurs  to build their businesses. Grant money is considered “gifted," and you are not required to pay it back. Sometimes, you may need to pay taxes on the amounts received, so please consider this and talk to a tax professional.

To secure a grant, you may have to do things like:

  • Meet eligibility requirements
  • Submit applications
  • Go through interviews

In exchange, you could be awarded financial resources to  build your brand , team, and operations.

Government entities or private businesses establish most grant programs because they want to help others succeed.

Tip:  Search grant databases, such as  GrantWatch , to find available grants in your industry. GrantWatch is an online hub for more than 26,000 grants in the United States and Canada in which you can browse various funding opportunities easily by filtering your specifications.

Grants vs. loans: What's the difference for entrepreneurs?

A  loan  is funding you must pay back to the creditor who loaned you the money. In contrast, a grant is “gifted" money you don't need to pay back.

You will have to apply for both grants and loans, but a loan application considers your ability to repay the money, while a grant application considers your merit as it applies to the rules of the grant.

If you’re considering a loan, LegalZoom’s Fast Break for Small Business grant fund administrator, Accion Opportunity Fund , is an inclusive Community Development Institutions Fund (CDFI) dedicated to helping small business owners. They provide support through affordable small business loans, coaching, educational resources, networks, webinars, and policy advocacy. 

4 types of grants available to small businesses

Grants of many types are available to small business owners and are grouped into four main categories. Your eligibility for these grants will depend on your products and services, how you own your business, and your business's mission.

The four types of grants available to business owners are:

  • Federal grants : The government gives grants to stimulate the economy. These grants are drawn from the U.S. general federal revenue.
  • State grants : These can be smaller than federal grants, but because of their state-specific requirements, the competition is often slimmer. This makes them more attainable for many organizations. Even though they may be smaller than a federal grant, they can still be a much-needed financial boost.
  • Local grants : Small establishments are the main focus of these grants that directly stimulate the community around them.
  • Corporate grants : These grants, given out by corporations, can have various requirements, come in different amounts, and be suited for specific or broad types of businesses. In most cases, companies set aside money at the beginning of the fiscal year and host competitions to distribute funds.

Four types of business grants

There's plenty of grant money available for entrepreneurs. Look into funding from the following sources to help your business. These grants were available at the time of publishing and may not still be available.

1. LegalZoom’s Fast Break for Small Business grant program

Together with the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League, LegalZoom is offering $3 million in grant funding and services to small business owners and emerging entrepreneurs, with a $6 million commitment over three years. Apply today through Sept. 15, 2024, for your chance at a $10,000 small business grant and/or up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services.

  • Award amount : $10,000 for established businesses, $500 in products and services for emerging entrepreneurs
  • How to apply : Apply on Accion Opportunity Fund’s website .  

2. Grants.gov

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources created Grants.gov in 2002. It's a government program operated by the Office of Management and Budget. The program provides resources and assistance for grant seekers to find and receive funding.

  • Award amount:  Varies
  • How to apply:  Visit grants.gov for details on specific grants.

The website allows you to search for federal grants and check your eligibility before applying for one. You can also track your grant applications once submitted.  

3. Local chamber of commerce

Start by researching grants within your community—your local Chamber of Commerce is a great place to start.

  • How to apply:  Reach out to your local  Chamber of Commerce  for information.

Although some grants have stipulations like industry, business type, size, and location, your local chamber of commerce should be able to connect you with grants that fit your situation. Their team can also provide your small business funding services, tips, and resources.

4. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

The Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) is a competitive grant program for small businesses. This program helps fund entrepreneurs in the research and development industry to support scientific and technological innovation.

  • Award amount:  Phase 1, $50,000–$250,000 for six months or one year; Phase 2, $750,000 for two years (only available for businesses who previously received a Phase I grant).
  • How to apply:  Apply with a  specific solicitation  if you meet industry requirements.

A  solid business plan  is a must before you apply. A plan will clarify your business's direction and how it can benefit your community.

5. Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR)

Small Business Technology Transfer Programs are similar to SBIRs but focused on the technology industry. This grant is issued to businesses in the technology industry.

These grants help fund innovative technological advancement in many fields with the intention of boosting the economy.  

6. FedEx Small Business Grant

FedEx hosts a small business grant contest to provide funding for ambitious entrepreneurs. The contest has tough competition, with nearly 18,000 applicants for the grant in 2022.

  • Award amount:  Up to $30,000
  • How to apply:  Visit the  FedEx website  for specific application details.

This grant is open to small business models with a story “worth telling," so if you plan to apply, pinpoint what makes your business unique.

7. National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grant

The  National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grant  was established in 2006. Over the years, NASE has awarded roughly $1,000,000 to entrepreneurs to help grow small businesses.

  • Award amount:  Up to $4,000
  • How to apply:  Visit NASE's  website  for information on the grant and how to become an NASE member.

You must be a member of NASE to apply for this grant, but winners can receive up to $4,000 to go toward marketing, team growth, and other needs.

Several small business grants are available exclusively to women, and more arise every year to tackle inequality in funding.

8. Amber Grant Foundation

WomensNet founded the  Amber Grant Foundation  in 1998. Its mission is to help aspiring  female small business owners  fund their dreams in honor of Amber Wigdahl, the grant's namesake.

  • Award amount:  $10,000–$25,000
  • How to apply:  Visit WomensNet's  website  for details on monthly and annual grant gifts. This grant has a $15 application fee.

In the first week of every month, $10,000 is awarded to a woman pursuing her entrepreneurial passions, from “scientific inventors to bakers," according to the WomensNet site. At the end of each year, the foundation also grants one woman $25,000.

9. Live Your Dream Award

Each year, the  Live Your Dream Foundation  grants $2.1 million in educational funds to women on behalf of Soroptimist International. This foundation focuses on women who have survived sexual violence or other traumatic events.

  • Award amount:  $1,000–$10,000
  • How to apply:  Visit Soroptimist's website  for more information.

The Live Your Dream Foundation offers programs and funding that help women build confidence, advance their careers, and overcome unexpected situations. 

10. Cartier Women's Initiative Award

This grant program is for eco-friendly and sustainable women-owned businesses around the world. Cartier offers three funding types:  regional awards ,  diversity, equity, and inclusion awards , and  science and technology pioneer awards .

  • Award amount:  $30,000–$100,000
  • How to apply:  Visit the  Cartier Women's Initiative website  for more information on various awards.

11. American Association of University Women (AAUW)

The American Association of University Women not only offers academic and research grants but also grants for career development for women looking to change careers or reenter the workforce.

  • Award amount:  $2,000–$20,000
  • How to apply:  Visit the  AAUW website  for a timeline and eligibility requirements.

In addition to grants for individual career betterment, the AAUW also grants funds for projects that encourage and jump-start young girls' careers in technical fields.

12. Stacy's Rise Project

Stacy's Snacks is a women-led brand that launched the Rise Project to help women grow their businesses in the food industry. The project offers funding in addition to mentorship and opportunities for community and networking.

  • Award amount:  $25,000
  • How to apply:  Visit the  Stacy's website  for grant information

Past winners have received more than $450,000 to grow their products with mentorship.

13. Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship Grant

Designer Tory Burch has a fund with the goal of mentoring and uplifting women entrepreneurs across all walks of life.

  • Award amount:  $5,000
  • How to apply:  Visit the  Tory Burch website  for details on the fellowship program and the foundation itself.

In addition to a monetary grant, the fellowship program offers a yearlong education model with mentorship tailored to your needs. The foundation also offers a peer network of other recipients and a trip to Burch's New York office.

Many small business grants celebrate this diversity by offering grants specifically for minorities to help you and your business grow.

14. Sephora Accelerate

Sephora is a makeup retailer that launched its  Accelerate  grant program to uplift minority business leaders. Each fall, this program helps fund and mentor entrepreneurs in the beauty industry.

  • Award amount:  This is a non-monetary award that offers mentorship and a potential Sephora-exclusive product launch
  • How to apply:  Visit  Sepora Accelerate  for more information on eligibility and selection criteria.

Though rewards for this grant aren't monetary, they do involve a hefty financial advantage. Winners receive access to a six-month boot camp and are eligible to launch their products directly with Sephora.

16. National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

The  National Minority Supplier Development Council  is a top corporate membership organization that offers business services and networking opportunities to connect you with investors and build your practice.

  • How to apply:  Visit the  NMDSC website  for more information on offerings and one-off funding and grant opportunities.

Although grant opportunities run the gambit, access to the NMSDC's roster of mentors and community small business advisors is top-notch.

17. Operation Hope Small Business Empowerment Program

The  Small Business Empowerment Program  from Operation Hope offers eight and 12-week entrepreneurship training programs with funding opportunities.

  • How to apply:  Visit   Operation Hope  for details and other entrepreneurial growth opportunities.

18. SBA Funding Programs

The  SBA grant program  offers a few funding options—research and development, exporting, and associate rewards. Grants vary by year, and eligibility may differ depending on each grant offering.

  • How to apply:  Visit SBA  for more information on grant offerings.

The SBA also offers a Veterans Business Outreach Center services for veterans to help assist in operations, funding, and other business needs.

Thanks to certain organizations, veterans are on the receiving end of many small business grants and programs.

19. The Second Service Foundation

The Second Service Foundation's mission is to inspire and support military entrepreneurs. It grants businesses funding, shares educational content, provides mentorship and coaching, and hosts networking events.

  • Award amount:  $4,000–$15,000
  • How to apply:  Visit the  Second Service Foundation  for more information on grant offerings.

Since 2016, the foundation (formerly The StreetShares Foundation) has built a strong community of over 85,000 members and helped more than 5,000 entrepreneurs build their businesses.

20. VA VR&E Business Ownership Track

If you're a veteran with a disability and an entrepreneurial passion, reach out to the  VR&E Self-Employment Track program . This program helps coordinate services to build your business—starting with your business plan. Team members assist in small business operations, marketing, and finances.

  • Award amount:  Non-monetary. Assistance with planning and growing a business.
  • How to apply:  Visit the  VA.gov  for more information on program benefits.

While the program isn't a monetary grant, the resources provided to recipients are valuable for planning and scaling a business as a veteran.

In all likelihood, you'll need funds to take your business model to the next level. Instead of taking out a business loan, consider these startup grants.

20. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grants

The Build to Scale (B2S) Program seeks to build regional economies by funding scalable startups through various grant competitions. Total funding stands in the millions, with $45 million in federal funds available to startups in 2022.

  • How to apply:  Visit EDA.gov  for details on grant competitions.

The B2S program accepts applications for three different competitions: Venture Challenge, Capital Challenge, and Industry Challenge.

An illustration outlines four tips when applying for business grants.

Small business grants come in many forms and have various requirements. While there's nothing you can do to guarantee you get a grant, there are some things that can increase your likelihood of getting picked for one.

1. Start local

Nationwide grants can be appealing due to their large awards. Before you spend countless hours preparing submissions for nationwide grants, consider starting locally.

Look for any small grants offered by your town or city. Then, branch out to the state level and regional level. These grants may not be as big as some of the ones offered to the entire country, but you'll also be competing with a smaller pool and have a greater chance of winning funding.

2. Research previous winners

If you've found a grant that looks like a good fit for your business, do some digging and see who the previous winners were. Note any patterns you see between the business.

Seeing what kinds of businesses are awarded a certain grant can help you narrow down if your business is a good fit, what you could do to increase your chances, and ultimately help you save time by not applying to a grant you're unlikely to land.

3. Take your time with applications

Grant applications can be long and grueling. Take it slowly when filling them out, and don't let yourself get overwhelmed by trying to rush them. A mistake on the application could cost you the grant, so make sure it's time well spent by filling out the forms the right way.

Similarly, take your time developing your story before you start writing grant applications. Many grants may ask entrepreneurs to appeal to emotion in their applications, wanting to hear about the “why" behind your motivation to grow a business besides financial gain. A confident story can be a great asset before embarking down a path of grant applications.

4. Consider hiring a grant writer

Grant writing is an art, so consider hiring a grant writer. A grant writer will know what kind of language to use to make your application stand out, which can make quite an impact when you're competing.

It's worth noting that grant writers can be expensive. So, if you're strapped for cash, you may want to hold off and consider taking some  free grant writing courses  instead.

Before applying to grant programs, ensure you've  covered all your business's legal bases  and have a story to tell along with a business plan to show.

When you’re ready to take your business to the next level, LegalZoom will be there to help you every step of the way.

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How To Find and Get Small Business Grants

Learn how grants work and the ways in which to receive them

How Small Business Grants Work

How to find small business grants, types of small business grants, how to apply for grants for your business, frequently asked questions (faqs).

PixelsEffect / Getty Images

Small business grants are sums of money awarded to businesses for various purposes such as economic development, job creation, or disaster relief by government and nonprofit organizations.

Grants essentially are free money, providing businesses of all types, sizes, ages, and industries with the resources to grow without requiring anything in return. Learn what grant opportunities are perfect for your business, including what types are available, how to find them, and how to apply for them.

Key Takeaways

  • Small business grants are sums of money given for a particular purpose by government or nonprofit organizations for economic and business development.
  • Grants don't require equity (a stake in your company), which means nothing is expected in return other than your time and effort to acquire them.
  • Grants do not need to be repaid; however, your business must meet requirements to receive funding.
  • You can find small business grants by browsing the websites or calling the offices of local, state, federal, and nonprofit organizations in your area.

Small business grants can be divided into two categories: those from the government (local, state, or federal) and those from private organizations. Many different types of small business grants are available, but not all grants are the same. Most grants are first come, first serve and based on need, so as long as you fulfill the requirements, you have a shot at receiving funding. Unlike traditional loans , which are available for any kind of business, your business must be eligible and match requirements for the specific grant you are applying for to receive funding.

How Much Funding Can You Expect to Receive?

Federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), award billions of dollars every year in small business loans and grants to help fund startups, keep existing businesses thriving, and create jobs.

In 2021 alone, the SBA distributed nearly $416.3 billion in emergency relief aid through various grant programs to more than 6 million small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small business grants can range from a few thousand dollars to a few million. Government programs from federal down to state and local can provide small business owners with grant funding, tax credits, free training, no-interest loans, and other financial perks. Private organizations such as nonprofits function similarly but on a smaller scale, and can provide grants, equity investments, no-interest loans, and patent protections to business owners.

Do You Have To Pay It Back?

As a small business owner, knowing the rules and regulations surrounding your grant funding, including what you need to do after receiving a small business grant, is essential. The short answer is no. Grants do not need to be repaid once you receive them from a government or nonprofit organization. Grants are free sums of money awarded to businesses in need.

There is no need for monthly repayments or interest charges; however, you are still responsible for any associated taxes that come with accepting the grant.

How Difficult Is It To Get Small Business Grants?

Many factors can complicate the process of applying for grants, including the grant itself, the level of competition, the longevity of the business, and how well you detailed your purpose for the grant. However, the SBA and most nonprofit grant organizations have resources to help guide you through the process. If you still run into difficulties, you can always turn to an attorney, business mentorship network SCORE, or nonprofit guide for help.

There are many ways to find small business grants. One way is to research online for funding opportunities. Government sites such as Grants.gov are excellent places to start your search because they offer the most variety of programs. However, there are also non-governmental sources where you can find grant programs.

One option is to ask your local chamber of commerce or other small business associations in your area about grant opportunities and where you can apply. Depending on your location, you can check out local and regional grant programs that focus on specific industries, such as manufacturing or tourism.

There are various ways to find small business grants, depending on the type of grant you are looking for. Local, state, and federal government agencies receive funding and offer resources to small business owners expressly for this purpose.

It can be helpful to reach out to these agencies about the grants available in your area or for your business type or demographic. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is also a helpful resource for locating grants that fit your business’s needs.

If you're looking to get support for your small business, keep in mind that there are many avenues to explore. Some funds are issued directly by the federal government, while others are distributed through state and local governments or private organizations such as nonprofits. After the funds are distributed, organizations then can use their funding to provide technical or educational assistance on a regional level.

Below are some examples of resources across government levels.

Local Grants

Since local grant programs generally have less competition than state and federal ones, they are excellent places to start. Search online for your local small business development center (SBDC) or economic development center. SBDC websites and SBA local chapter websites should have information on grants available for your business. Additionally, you can contact your district's elected officials' offices about grant funding in your area.

State or Regional Grants

You can find out if your business qualifies for any state or regional grants by checking out the SBA’s website and exploring its information on available grants and funding programs. Another place to check is your state’s economic development websites. You can also contact your elected state officials’ offices for more information on grant funding available. State grants generally have more competition than local grants, so apply early and make sure you meet eligibility requirements. For example, there is:

  • U.S. Small Business Administration State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) : STEP offers financial assistance to small businesses seeking to export products. This grant program distributes federal funds through state agencies. Small businesses that meet the criteria set by each state can use the funds to participate in foreign trade shows, facilitate entry to foreign markets, develop websites, create products, and design international marketing campaigns.
  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) grants : The MBDA is an agency subsidiary of the Department of Commerce and provides grants to promote the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses .

Federal Grants

These grants can be the most competitive to apply for, but are available for a wide variety of recipients. Grants.gov is a great place to start while looking for federal grant programs for your industry or demographic. Federal grant programs include:

  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) : SBIR and STTR are federal grant programs from the SBA that encourage small businesses to engage in research and development with the potential for commercialization and socioeconomic benefit.
  • Boots to Business (B2B) : The B2B program provides entrepreneurship training, curriculum updates and program management support services for active military members, veterans, and their spouses.

Private Grants

The government is not the only provider of small business grants. Nonprofit organizations often provide funding for entrepreneurs starting or growing their business ventures. Private organizations, demographic-specific grants, and emergency economic development grants are also options. The type of small business grants available to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses vary greatly and include grants for women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses. Examples include:

  • Fast Break for Small Business : LegalZoom has partnered with the NBA, WNBA, G League, and Accion Opportunity Fund to help out small business owners by offering $10,000 grants and up to $500 in LegalZoom services for small business owners. Applications are open twice a year.
  • National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) : The NASE offers up to $4,000 for business development through its Growth Grants program.
  • Amber Grants : Grants are awarded monthly in the Amber Grants program to women who want to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. Previous grant recipients have ranged from bakers to inventors.

What’s involved in the typical small business grant application process? The process for obtaining a small business grant has three main phases.

  • The pre-award phase : Grant applicants look for and apply for funding opportunities, then wait as their applications are reviewed.
  • Award phase : Grant organizations make award decisions and notify the recipients.
  • Post-award phase : Grant funds are utilized, any required reporting is submitted, and the grant organization closes the application.

Applying for a small business grant as a sole proprietor can be daunting and varies in time and effort depending on the type of grant and the funding organization's requirements. However, in general, the following steps are taken: c

  • Determine which grants are a good match for your business needs and goals. Research government grant programs and reach out to specific organizations that might be interested in funding your business.
  • Gather the information and documentation the funding organization needs to evaluate your application, including your pitch, financial statements, employer identification number (EIN) , and business plan.
  • Fill out the application form or submit your online application.
  • Wait for a response from the funding source.
  • Repeat this process until you receive the funding amount needed for your business.
  • If required, report back on how your business used the funding.

Is a Grant Right for You?

With the vast number of options available for this kind of funding, many applicants can find a grant that suits their business needs. However, there are potential downsides to seeking grant funding, including the competition and the time it takes to acquire it.

If you own a small business, need funding, meet grant eligibility requirements, and have time to be patient, then grant funding is right for you. For businesses unable to meet eligibility requirements for government or private grants, or who can’t wait for funding, there are better options, such as small business loans or lines of credit , worth looking into for financing.

How do I qualify for a small business grant?

You can qualify for a small business grant if you are a small business owner looking to start and grow your business, and meet the granting organization's criteria. The organization granting the funds will often specify what it is looking for during the application process. Call its office or review its website for more information about grant eligibility requirements.

How long does it take to get a small business grant?

The length of time it takes to get a small business grant will depend on what type of funding you're applying for and which organization is supplying it. Grant approval and funding, whether from government agencies or  private foundations, can take several months to as long as a year. Keep in mind that some grants have eligibility windows that applicants can't miss. Find out the average wait time for the grant you are applying for and plan accordingly.

U.S. Small Business Administration. “ FACT SHEET: The U.S. Small Business Administration Is Delivering Support to America’s Small Businesses, Helping Them Recover From the COVID-19 Pandemic .”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “ 52 Grants, Loans and Programs To Benefit Your Small Business .”

Grants.gov. " Grants 101 ."

Grants.gov. “ How To Apply for Grants .”

Fifth Third Bank. “ 3 Steps To Apply for a Small Business Grant .”

New York State, Empire State Development. “ Meet Me in New York Grant Program .”

GetFundid. “ How Long Does It Take To Get a Business Grant? ”

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Startup Business Grants: Best Free Funding Options

Olivia Chen

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Startup business grants provide free funding to help small businesses grow without debt. Competition for small-business grants is fierce, however, and many awards require a minimum time in business — often at least six months.

In some cases, newer businesses or true startups may be able to access grant funding, but these options can be more difficult to find. Nevertheless, it can pay to know where to look for future financing.

Here are the best business startup grants, plus alternative funding sources to consider.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Government startup business grants and resources

Some government programs offer direct funding to startups looking for business grants, but those that don’t may point you in the right direction or help with applications.

Government agencies routinely post new grant opportunities on this centralized database . If you see an opportunity relevant to your business idea, you can check if startups are eligible. Many of these grants deal with scientific or pharmaceutical research, though, so they may not all be relevant to Main Street businesses.

State and local government grants

The federal government awards a variety of grant funding to other governments, like states or cities, or to nonprofit economic development organizations . Those entities then offer grants to local businesses. Plugging into your local startup ecosystem can help you stay on top of these opportunities. For example, New York state’s website offers a consolidated list of business grants and incubators organized by region [0] Empire State Development . Division of Small Business . Accessed Jan 2, 2024. View all sources .

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs

These federal grant programs are designed for businesses with innovative technology or scientific research ideas. Federal agencies list the types of research they’re hoping to fund, and if you think your idea qualifies, you can submit a proposal. Unsolicited proposals aren’t allowed.

Small Business Development Centers

These resource centers funded by the Small Business Administration offer business coaching, education, technical support and networking opportunities. They may also be able to help you apply for small-business grants, develop a business plan and level up your business in other ways.

Minority Business Development Agency Centers

The MBDA , which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, operates small-business support centers similar to SBDCs. The MBDA doesn't give grants to startup businesses directly, but these centers can connect you with grant organizations, help you prepare applications and secure other types of business financing .

» MORE: Best small-business grants for minorities

Startup business grants from private companies and nonprofits

Many corporations and large nonprofits, like the National Association for the Self-Employed, offer startup business grants or organize grant competitions. Some national opportunities include:

IFundWomen Universal Grant Application Database

IFundWomen partners with other corporations to administer business grants. The company generally focuses on small-business grants for women , but also offers startup grants, crowdfunding and coaching, among other resources.

You can fill out a universal application to receive automatic notifications when you’re eligible to apply for a grant.

Amber Grant for Women

WomensNet gives three $10,000 Amber Grants each month and three $25,000 grants annually. Although startups are eligible for all grants, one of the monthly $10,000 grants is specifically geared toward new businesses.

Filling out one application makes you eligible for all Amber Grants. To qualify, businesses must be at least 50% women-owned and based in the U.S. or Canada.

National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grant

Join NASE, and you can apply for quarterly Growth Grant opportunities. There are no time-in-business requirements for these grants of up to $4,000, but you’ll need to provide details about how you plan to use the grant and how it will help your business grow.

Bizee’s Fresh Start Business Grant

If you plan to start a business — or have just launched a new endeavor, you may be able to get a $2,500 startup business grant from Bizee, formerly Incfile. Bizee’s Fresh Start Business Grant can be used to cover startup costs and also includes free formation services from the company.

To qualify, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old, a U.S. resident and planning to start or grow your business in a significant way. Applications require a sample business plan, as well as a two-minute video.

Bizee has not yet announced its next grant cycle, but updates will be posted to its website.

Venmo Small Business Grant

The annual Venmo Small Business Grant offers $10,000 grants to 20 business owners. This program also provides mentorship from industry leaders and the opportunity to be featured on Venmo’s social media pages.

To qualify, you need to have a U.S. Venmo business account in good standing. You also need to have fewer than 10 employees, less than $50,000 in annual sales and have sold $500 or more in goods and services at least three months before the start of the grant program.

Venmo announced winners for the 2023 grant cycle in October. You can receive the latest updates about the 2024 cycle through your Venmo business profile.

The Amplifier Grant

The Outrage is an activism organization that offers a $5,000 small-business grant to companies making a difference in their community. The Amplifier Grant is available on a seasonal basis; funding is awarded in January, April, July and October.

To qualify for this grant, you must be a business or organization actively working to make the U.S. a better place. The Outrage accepts applications from startups, grassroots organizations, and nonprofits, among other small businesses.

FedEx Small Business Grant Contest

This annual competition awards grants to small-business owners in a variety of industries. You can sign up to receive an email when each application period opens. To be eligible, you’ll need to have been selling your product or service for at least six months. Be mindful, though, that each grant cycle receives thousands of applications.

Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is designed to provide funding, education and other resources to women-owned startup businesses.

Each year, the program chooses 50 small-business owners to participate in a yearlong initiative that includes workshops, networking groups, a $5,000 business education grant and a culmination presentation. Tory Burch Fellows participants also receive access to 0% interest loans through Kiva.

To qualify for this startup grant program, you must be a women entrepreneur who owns 51% or more of your business. You also must be an early-stage company (ranging from one to five years in business) that generates revenue (the program prefers a minimum of $75,000).

Applications are closed for the 2024 Fellow cycle, but you’ll be able to find updates for the following cycle on the Tory Burch Foundation website.

Small-business incubator programs

Business incubators or accelerators are designed to help companies in various phases of the startup stage — providing education, workspaces and mentorship. Some also provide funding in the form of grants, pitch competitions with cash prizes or access to investors upon completion of their program.

Although there are a range of programs for general startups, certain incubators target specific demographics, like underserved business owners. Head Boss in Charge Headquarters (HBICHQ), for example, is a Seattle-based nonprofit that serves women and minority-owned startup businesses. It offers merit-based grants for graduates of several of its educational programs.

Other programs are designed to offer support for certain industries. Accelerate Long Island , for instance, is a nonprofit designed to help high-growth biotech and health technology companies.

The program may provide startup grants to participants in conjunction with funding partners on a case-by-case basis, and it helps new businesses navigate New York state tax incentives and find workspace by partnering with local universities.

To find these types of institutions near you, you can do an online search for “[Your City] business incubator.” Even if you don’t see a grant program, it can be helpful to sign up for their email newsletter or follow them on social media. Like SBDCs and MBDAs, startup incubators often provide business coaching , courses and lectures that can help you develop and grow your business idea.

» MORE: How to fund your business idea

Alternatives to startup business grants

Finding and applying for new business grants can be difficult and time-consuming — plus, not all startups will qualify. If you’re looking for other ways to fund your business, you might consider these alternatives:

SBA microloans

SBA microloans offer up to $50,000 to help your business launch or expand. In fiscal year 2023, the average microloan was $15,644 [0] U.S. Small Business Administration . Microloans Summary Report . Accessed Jan 2, 2024. View all sources .

The SBA provides microloans through intermediary lenders, usually nonprofit financial institutions and economic development organizations. After receiving financing from the SBA, these lenders administer, underwrite and issue their own microloans.

As a result, SBA microloan requirements vary largely by lender. Many intermediaries are willing to work with startups, however. In fact, startup businesses received 24.6% of all SBA microloans issued in fiscal year 2023 [0] U.S. Small Business Administration . Microloans Summary Report . Accessed Jan 2, 2024. View all sources .

You can use the SBA’s website to find a lender in your state.

Friends and family

Asking friends and family to provide an investment for your business is a common form of startup funding . This type of arrangement can place a strain on relationships, however, so you’ll want to be careful.

You’ll want to define each person’s investment — is it a loan or are they getting equity in your business? If you’re receiving a small-business loan , you’ll want to lay out the rates and terms and detail how you’re going to pay it back.

You should put all agreements in writing, if possible.

Business credit cards

You can qualify for a business credit card with your personal credit score and some general information about your business, like your business name and industry.

Because startup business credit cards often earn rewards for spending, they can be great for daily expenses, but aren’t typically suited for larger purchases. If you make a large purchase on your credit card and can’t pay it back right away, you’ll start accruing interest on your balance, which can become expensive and difficult to manage.

It’s also important to keep in mind that you’ll likely need to sign a personal guarantee with your application — which means you’ll be held responsible for paying back the debt if your business can’t.

Crowdfunding

If you have a dedicated customer base, they can help finance your business through crowdfunding . In exchange for capital, businesses usually offer something for their supporters, like debt notes, equity shares or access to an exclusive event.

You can compare a variety of crowdfunding platforms that offer different terms, such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo and StartEngine, to find the model that works best for you.

A business startup grant provides free capital specifically for new businesses, which can be used for a variety of purposes. Unlike small-business loans, grants offer access to funds that don’t need to be repaid.

You can find startup business grants at government and state agencies, private corporations and nonprofit organizations. In general, grants for startups can be more difficult to find, so it can be helpful to reach out to local business development centers for assistance.

To apply for a startup business grant, you’ll first need to make sure you meet all of the eligibility criteria. Then, you’ll need to take time to complete the application. Every awarding organization will have specific requirements and a unique application. You may decide to hire a grant writer to help you with the process.

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How to Find a Small Business Grant

  • Steps to Applying
  • Tips for Qualifying

The Bottom Line

  • Small Business

How to Apply for a Small Business Grant

And where to find government or other grants that your business might be eligible for

Matt Webber is an experienced personal finance writer, researcher, and editor. He has published widely on personal finance, marketing, and the impact of technology on contemporary arts and culture.

government grant business plan

Financial grants that can help your small business grow and succeed are available from a variety of sources—the federal government, state and city governments, and a wide range of philanthropic organizations and corporations. Applying for these grants can be time-consuming, but they have several significant advantages over small business loans if you can get one. Most importantly, grants don't need to be repaid .

Key Takeaways

  • Many financial grants for small businesses are available from the federal government, state and local governments, and other sources.
  • Most grant programs accept applications online.
  • Before you apply, make sure your business meets the eligibility requirements, some of which can be very specific.
  • Bear in mind that small business grants can be highly competitive—especially those funded by the federal government—and you may not be successful on your first try.

The first step in applying for a government grant or other small business grant is to find one or more for which your business might qualify. In fact, this can be the most time-consuming part of the whole application process. Here are some resources that can help.

For Federal Grants

You might want to start at Grants.gov, which provides a guide to federal grants and a search tool for finding suitable ones.

One of the most common places to obtain a business grant is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) . The SBA provides grants to small businesses based on a variety of qualifications, such as the industry of the business and the background of the owners, such as gender or minority qualifications.

Other federal agencies that a business owner can look to for possible grants include the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

For State, Local, and Other Grants

Your state or local government may also offer small business grants and loans. You can search for these on the Council for Community and Economic Research's State Business Incentives Database.

Finally, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) may also be helpful in finding grants. Approximately 1,000 of these centers are across the country, making it possible to find one near you.

Steps to Applying for a Small Business Grant

The wide range of sponsors and available grants makes it difficult to describe the "typical" process for applying, but in general, it can be broken into three main steps.

1. Check Your Eligibility

Before you spend the time applying, check to see if you are eligible for the grant. This will save you and the reviewer a significant amount of time. All grants have a goal and to achieve that goal they have to comply with a set of requirements laid out by the organization on who they can accept for the grant.

Eligibility requirements may include the size of the business, a minimum amount of revenue a business brings in, the gender of the owners of the business, what type of activities the business is involved in, and more.

2. Collect Any Backup You Need

All grant applications will require certain documents, so make sure you have organized all relevant information before applying to streamline the application process.

Information that might be required as part of a grant application includes:

  • Business plan
  • Employer identification number (EIN)
  • Data universal numbering system (DUNS) number
  • The business's revenue history 
  • Business organizational chart
  • Bank statements 
  • Tax returns 

3. Invest Some Time in the Application

The complexity of your grant application—and the amount of time you'll need to spend on it—can vary depending on the sponsoring organization and the type and size of the grant. Grants from the federal government, for example, can involve many steps.

33.2 Million

The number of small businesses in the U.S. as of 2019, from the SBA's latest data provided in March 2023.

Tips for Qualifying for a Small Business Grant

Since business grants are such an attractive source of funding for small businesses, they tend to be very competitive. This is especially true for federal grants. State and local grants can be less competitive, but to maximize your chances of success , you should still take the application seriously.

Here are some tips to make your application as competitive as possible:

  • Read the grant objectives. Make sure you refer to the grant's objectives in your application. From the sponsor's point of view, the best applications are those that show a clear understanding of those objectives.
  • Spend time on your business plan. A well-developed and well-written business plan is arguably the most important part of your application. Take the time to ensure yours is of the highest quality, detailed, polished, and able to answer any foreseeable questions.
  • Explain how you'll use the grant. Because most small business grants are meant to be used for a specific purpose, be sure your business plan indicates how you're going to do that. The more detail you can give here, the better.
  • Check any funding match requirements. For some grants, you'll be required to match the sponsor's funds with your own. Determine that you could actually come up with the money before you apply. 
  • Apply early. Most grant programs have a finite pool of money and will stop considering applications once it has run out for the year. Keep an eye out for any deadlines and apply as early as you can.

While all these considerations can seem like a lot when you first start applying for grants, most businesses find that it gets easier with time. Once you have all your documents and are accustomed to writing in a way that grant officers understand and like, you'll find that applying for grants becomes significantly easier and ultimately more successful. 

What Is Considered a Small Business?

Definitions vary, but in accordance with SBA regulations, the majority of manufacturing firms employing 500 individuals or fewer, as well as non-manufacturing enterprises with average yearly earnings below $7.5 million, meet the criteria for classification as a small business.

Why Would a Grant Be Denied?

There are many reasons a grant application can be unsuccessful. You may not be eligible for the grant, or you might not have made it clear enough how the grant will support and develop your business. Alternatively, it could be that your application was great, but the donor received so many applications that it was unable to fund you this time.

Are Small Business Grants Taxable?

Yes, with very few exceptions, grants to businesses are taxable. Business loan proceeds, on the other hand, are not considered income and are not taxable.

A grant can be a better option than a loan as it is like free money that doesn't need to be paid back and comes with no interest charges like a loan does. Though applying for a grant can be competitive and challenging, it may be worth it for your business.

You can maximize your odds of success by devoting some serious time to researching appropriate grant opportunities, making sure your application addresses the grant sponsor's objectives, and applying early before the money runs out.

Grants.gov. “ Grant Programs .”

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Grants ."

Grants.gov. " Grant-Making Agencies ."

U.S. Economic Development Administration. " Funding Opportunities ."

NIH (National Institutes of Health) Seed. " Small Business Funding ."

Council for Community and Economic Research. " State Business Incentives Database ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) ."

Grants.gov. " Grant Eligibility ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Grants for Community Organizations ."

Grants.gov. " The Grant Lifecycle ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Frequently Asked Questions March 2023 ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Basic Requirements ."

Internal Revenue Service. " CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions ."

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Home > Finance > Loans

Guide to Startup Business Grants: Get Free Money for Your Business

Chloe Goodshore

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

On paper, grants sound like the perfect funding option for most small businesses. After all, grants give you money to spend on your business―but unlike loan money, you never have to pay it back. What’s not to love?

Well, as great as grants are, they do have some downsides. But should those downsides stop you from applying?

In this guide to startup business grants, we’ll help you decide. We’ll show you how grants work (the good and the bad) and tell you how to find grants for your business. We’ll also point you toward some alternative financing options, in case grants don’t work out for you.

What is a startup business grant?

  • How to get a startup grant

Where to find startup grants

Startup grant alternatives, the takeaway, related content, startup business grants faq.

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Qualifications:

$50k in revenue

6 mos. in business

560 credit score

If you didn't know what a startup business grant is, it does just what it sounds like. It grants funding to startups, small businesses, or nonprofits—and the funding comes from an organization or the government. Although this sounds great, competition for grants is fierce.

Let's look at some more pros and cons to help you see if they're the right fit for your business. 

Pros and cons of business grants

How to get small-business grants.

As we already said, grants give money that you don’t have to repay. That means you’re getting free funds for your business.

Of course, actually getting and using those funds can get a little more complicated. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Find a relevant grant

If you want to get a startup business grant, first you need to find a grant to apply for.

Maybe you already have one (or more) in mind. In that case, you can skip ahead to the next step. If you don’t, it’s time to start looking. We have some tips on where to look (which we’ll come to in just a bit ).

Remember, though, that you’re not just looking for any grant. You’re looking for a grant that you can use for your business. Most grants specify how the funds can be used. So if you want to buy equipment, for example, don’t bother with grants that have to be used to hire more staff.

Once you think you’ve found a grant, it’s time to take a closer look at the application requirements.

2. Make sure you qualify

Most grants require applicants to meet certain eligibility requirements.

For example, the grant-giving organization might require you to have a for-profit business. The requirements can get much more specific than that though. Take the Asian Women Giving Circle Grant. Applicants must be Asian American women with a nonprofit in New York City.

So before you start an application, make sure you and your business meet all the relevant requirements for your grant of choice. Otherwise, you could waste time on a grant you’ll never get.

Now, the good news is that most grants stick to demographic qualifications or industry qualifications―things about you or the area you work in. They don’t, however, usually care about things like your personal credit score . Likewise, you won’t find too many grants that have strict revenue or time in business qualifications.

That means you can often qualify for grants even if you can’t qualify for business loans―making grants great for startup funding.

When you’re sure you qualify for the grant you want, you’re ready to begin your application. After all, grants don’t get handed out willy-nilly to anyone who wants them―you have to win them.

3. Work on your application

Depending on the grant you’re applying for, the application can range from answering a few basic questions about your business to very involved essays, videos, and budget proposals. In other words, you should plan on investing some time in your grant application.

That said, you should consider how involved the grant application is and compare that to the grant award amount. It may be worth pouring hours and days into an application for a $60,000 grant―but you might not want to invest that much time in a $1,000 grant.

government grant business plan

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4. Submit your application

Assuming you still decide to apply, though, you can finish and submit your application.

Make sure you fill out the application completely and submit all the required parts. After all, your application will probably have quite a bit of competition.

And watch out for deadlines . Many grant applications have a very strict submission deadline. Don’t miss it, or you’ll have to sit out that grant cycle.

5. Wait to see if you get the grant

While we know you want to hear back about your application right away, you probably won’t get an answer for a while .

Most grants get quite a few applicants. And the more broad the grant requirements, the more applicants they’re likely to get.

Because so many business owners apply, it can take a long time to find out whether or not you won the grant. After all, someone has to review all those applications.

So settle in for a long wait. But do make sure you check your email and voicemail regularly to make sure you don’t miss any important communications about the grant―like telling you that you won.

6. Use your grant money

If you’re lucky, you’ll win the grant.

Congratulations! You got free money. That doesn’t mean you can spend your grant money however you want though. Most grants earmark the funds for certain uses. (Fortunately, they tell you about those uses upfront.)

As you spend your grant money, make sure you use it on those designated uses . If you don't, you could end up on the hook for repaying your improperly used funds.

Most grants publish a list of their winners, which means you’ll get some free publicity for your business. (So make sure your business website is updated and operational.)

Now that you know how to get a startup business grant, how do you actually find one you want?

Mostly, you’re going to have to put in some time and effort to look.

As we said earlier, we suggest looking locally if possible . Ask around at local small business development centers, business expos, and other places.

But yes, you can look online too. That’s how we found some of our favorite grants for startup businesses.

Grants for small businesses

Data effective 9/22/22. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Another good place to look is grants.gov . It lists all current government grant opportunities.

And you can always look at grants for special groups.

Grants for specific groups

While business lenders can’t choose to give money only to certain groups―like women, veterans, or minorities―grant programs can. So if you’re in one of those groups, look for grants targeted at you.

If you’re a female business owner , you can check out our roundup of the best small-business grants for women . Some opportunities are open to all female entrepreneurs, while others get more specific.

If you’re a minority business owner , there are grants just for you. We have a list of the best business grants for minorities to get you started.

And if you (or your spouse) served in the US military , you might be able to qualify for grants for veterans .

Before we wrap this guide up, we want to pause for a brief reality check.

Grants are great, and we highly recommend applying for them―but realistically, you can’t count on getting grant funding . (Sorry.)

Startup business grants are very, very competitive. Even if you have the best application, you can’t guarantee that you’ll win a grant.

With that in mind, we want to suggest some other business financing options you can look at.

Business loans

Unlike grants, you have to repay small-business loans. But if you need working capital, you may find that loans are worth the cost.

As a young startup, you’ll have somewhat limited options for business loans. Traditional lenders (banks) won’t even look at you.

You’re better off applying with online lenders, like the ones on our list of the best small-business loans for startups .

Enter your loan needs and qualifications to get matched with a list of lenders best suited to you. Then, sort by the financing factor that you find most important. ( Note : not all lenders allow personal loans for business use .)

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding offers another way to get free money for your business. In most cases, you don’t have to repay the funds you get through crowdfunding (though you’ll probably have to reward your backers somehow).

Plus, you can crowdfund even with a very young startup. Just keep in mind that crowdfunding tends to work better for product-based businesses rather than service-based businesses.

Our guide to crowdfunding for startups explains how you can get started with crowdfunding platforms.

Other options

You’ve got more financing options than just grants, loans, and crowdfunding. Here are some other popular funding methods:

  • Borrowing from family and friends
  • Personal assets
  • Angel investors
  • Venture capitalists

Startup business grants can be a great way to fund your business, since you don’t have to repay the money and you don’t have to meet any credit requirements. But grants often have involved applications and competitive applicant pools, so they’re not right for every small-business owner.

If you can find relevant grants that don’t take too long to apply for, we highly recommend submitting an application. Just remember you can’t count on grant funding―so make sure you have a backup plan.

Interested in other funding options with no (or low) credit requirements? Check out our rankings of the best bad credit startup loans .

  • Small-Business Grants for Women 2023: 5 Programs with Free Money for Women
  • Business Loans, Grants, and Resources for Veteran Entrepreneurs
  • Small-Business Grants for Minorities: The Best Opportunities―And Where to Find More
  • 10 Best Startups Loans for Bad Credit in 2023
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There are multiple ways to get funding for your startup—grants being just one of them. We cover a few briefly in this article (including business loans, crowdfunding, and other options), but we discuss the options in depth in our Best Small-Business Funding Options .

If you are just looking at grants though, we recommend looking on Grants.gov .

The government only provides grants for nonprofits and educational institutions. So unless your business is a nonprofit, you're out of luck.

No, the SBA stopped accepting PPP loan applications on May 31, 2021.

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How to write the business plan for a grant application?

business plan for a grant application

Small business grants give free money to startups and existing businesses to help them flourish. 

Free money doesn’t come easy, though. You’ll need to first research and find the right grant for your business. Then you need to persuade the body offering the grant why they should give one to your business.

Most grants have their own specific application process, where businesses provide information so the body can decide whether it fits their specific funding criteria.

It’s important to accompany your grant application with a strong business plan. Besides including most of the basic information that goes into a grant application (like the service or product you’re offering and your staffing plan) it also includes a financial forecast - showing the funding body how profitable your business is likely to be. 

Writing a business plan also provides another opportunity to convince them that your business’ objectives align with the grant’s purpose.

If you haven’t written a business plan for a grant application before, don’t worry. 

From information on where to find small business grants, to what you need to include in a business plan for a grant application, here are some key points to consider when applying for a small business grant.

Create your business plan online!

Write a compelling grant application with the help of our business plan software!

business plan for a grant application

What’s the difference between a small business grant and a loan?

A small business loan is money given to your business that you have to pay back within a pre-agreed timeframe, whilst a small business grant is a lump sum of money that you won’t have to pay back at all. This is what makes them so appealing to small businesses.

But there is a catch with some grants. This can mean having to adhere to a grant-giving body’s request that you invest the same amount of money as the grant into your business. 

Other conditions include letting the funding body designate what you can spend the money on. For example, the government’s Kickstart Scheme gives funding for small businesses to train new apprentices, provided that apprentice is between 16-24, on universal credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

For some grants, such as the one offered by the government in 2021 that supported projects working on the development of the DSbD software ecosystem , a business might need to explain, in detail, the total cost of the specific project - and exactly how it presents value for money for the company’s whole team in their grant application.

This means having a Sources & Uses table and a cashflow forecast ready to show to the funding body. If you’re a big business, you might be able to get away with presenting a business case that describes how the project will be funded, what it will cost and what economic benefits you can expect. 

If you’re a small business, however, the safest thing to do is create a business plan that neatly incorporates all these elements. 

business plan for a grant application

Where can I find small business grants in the UK?

The financial aid available to your business will depend on where in the UK you're based, your business’ size, your industry and whether you’re a startup or looking to expand your business.

To find the right grant for you, check out the government’s Finance and support for your business online tool by clicking the ‘grants’ tick box. 

What is a grant application?

A grant application is a document or set of documents that is submitted to a grant-giving body with the purpose of securing funding for a startup or an existing business venture. 

Normally, grants are awarded to small businesses with the aim of generating jobs, energizing local communities and strengthening the economy.

While there’s an abundance of grants available to small businesses, obtaining one from the government can be quite tricky. Government grants are renowned for being quite complex and have a lot of stages. 

Each grant will come with its own unique criteria for applying, too. For example, if you’re applying for a research grant from a UK-based foundation then they may require that all your research is carried out within the UK. Or if you’re seeking funding as part of an initiative to make your business more sustainable, you might need to prove your business’ dedication to carrying out eco-friendly practices.

Whether you’re a startup or an existing business, the same rule applies when taking your first step in applying for a grant: research the funding body and the grant in question as thoroughly as possible so you know exactly what they’re looking for in a grant application.

What information do I need to have before applying for a small business grant?

According to Swoop , businesses should prepare the following information before applying for a small business grant:

  • Create a realistic financial forecast to show your business’ financial position
  • Provide evidence that shows how your business meets the specific grant qualifying criteria
  • Specify exactly what your business plans to do with the money allocated
  • Provide evidence that your team will be able to successfully meet this objective
  • Be clear about the exact outcome you expect and whether there will be a return on the grant funder’s investment. This enables them to evaluate the efficiency of their grant.

Why do you need a business plan for a grant application?

The rationale behind writing a business plan for a grant application is simple: funding bodies want to know that they’re giving their money to a business they can trust. 

Writing a business plan will be an opportunity for you to neatly present all the information listed above. If you're not sure how to go about structuring a business plan, you can use business plan software. Most business plan softwares come equipped with an inbuilt structure and instructions, ensuring you include all the information a funding body expects to see.

If you’re a start-up, a business plan also provides the perfect opportunity to show the grant-giving body that your business’ mission aligns with their own specific mission and purpose. 

If you’re already in operation, a business plan will show your business’ financial position and, if applicable, the positive impact it’s had on your community thus far. This helps alleviate any fear that your business is at risk of going under, making them more likely to get involved. 

What should you include in a business plan for a grant application?

Executive summary.

The first section in your business plan for a grant application is the Executive Summary. This will show your company’s ethos and how its goals align with the mission of the funding body.

Company overview

Presenting a breakdown of the structure of your company, this section shows that its operation has been carefully thought through. Making it likely that the grant-giving body will take your application more seriously.

Description of your product/service

In this section, you'll explain the product or service you’re selling, how it works, and the specific ways in which it’s better than what else is already out there.

Market analysis

The market research section provides another opportunity to show your business aligns with the funding body's missions. For example, you can explain the needs of your target market or community and how you intend to cater to these needs. 

Here, you'll explain how your product will be priced and marketed for your target market to again appeal to the ethos of the funding body.

You'll also explain any risks associated with your specific project, as well as the contingency plan you have in place to mitigate each of these risks. This will enhance the credibility of your application. 

Financial forecast

The financial forecast will list three full financial statements - your profit and loss statement, balance sheet and cashflow statement.

These will be useful in showing the body how much profit your business is likely to make, how successful your venture is likely to be and, if applicable, how many people it's likely to benefit.

business plan for a grant application balance sheet

Whilst writing your business plan, we recommend that you have the grant-giving body’s mission and purpose open on a separate tab. Where possible, refer back to the foundation’s mission in your business plan to show how it aligns with your business’ own values. 

You could even go a step further by adding buzzwords from the funding body’s mission statement in your plan to show how much you’ve thought it out. 

What tool should I use to write my grant application business plan?

If you haven’t written a business plan for a grant application before, the process can feel a little overwhelming. 

Using business plan software is a great way to create a high-quality business plan quickly and efficiently.

There are many business planning softwares out there, so it’s important to choose the right one for you. 

Most business plan softwares generate three full financial statements for you, helping you give the foundation as realistic a picture of your business’ finances as possible. 

For grant applications, we recommend going with a business plan software that lets you model grants. This gives the funding body total transparency as to how exactly their grant would be used within the business. 

Attractive visuals and a striking cover page with your business’ name and logo will also help your business stand out. So we recommend choosing a business plan software that breaks your numbers into colourful, easy-to-read charts and tables and automatically generates a cover page for you. 

If you’re not sure which business plan software to go for to create your business plan for a grant application, we recommend trying The Business Plan Shop . 

As well as having the features listed above, our online business plan software enables you to:

  • Create a financial forecast to show your business’ financial potential
  • Run a quality check to identify any issues with your forecast before sending it to a funding body
  • Follow clear instructions to write a professional business plan
  • Draw inspiration from the templates stored within our business plan software

Interested in checking out this type of solution? Try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up for a free trial today .

create a grant business plan online

So now you know how to write the business plan for a grant application. If you have any other questions related to writing a business plan or applying for grants, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

  • How to do market research for a business plan
  • Create your financial forecast online with ease
  • Download our free business plan template
  • The difference between a business plan and a business case

Guillaume Le Brouster

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Government Services Business Plan

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ASTI - Advanced Science and Technology Institute

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

The Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) supports research faculty and staff at **State University, University of AnyState, AnyState Health Sciences University and AnyCity State University in its management of new discoveries. This support includes the management of new discoveries having commercial applications, as well as the management of corporate research agreements leading to new discovery.

**(Editor’s Note: Names disguised for confidentiality.)

Government services business plan, executive summary chart image

1.1 Keys to Success

  • Building a strong support base with the private sector within State and the Northwest.
  • Creating an effective network between researchers to facilitate cross-disciplinary contact.
  • Raising the viability of ASTI as the one-stop resource for all transferable technology that is being developed on the campuses of State’s four largest universities.

1.2 Mission

The mission of the ASTI is to bring technologies from **State University, University of AnyState, AnyState Health Sciences University and AnyCity State University into public use; thereby providing economic development assistance to state and federal agencies and companies to benefit State constituents, providing service to the technology transfer staff of each institution by assisting in identifying, protecting, developing and transferring technology to the private sector and generating income. ASTI’s unique perspective is in its ability to link researchers from various institutions to create new technologies that can then be marketed to the private sector.

Historically, State has received less attention from companies that develop long-term relationships with the university research community.  With SouthernState universities to the south and the University of AnyState to the north, State has had a difficult time reaching the level of viability necessary to draw the interest of companies outside the state.

It is a problem of economy of scale. Currently, State University, University of AnyState, AnyState Health Sciences University and AnyCity State University have 128 technologies available for licensing.  One university in SouthernState, The University of Southern State (USS), has over 200 technologies available for licensing.  In addition, USS has received $20 million in corporate research funding last year.  This far exceeds the total for all corporate research funding for the four State schools ($3 million) during the same period. In State, the State Technology Center has secured $91 million in private funding for technology transfer from the University of State. It is critical that the four major universities in State pool its resources in order to be competitive in drawing corporate attention to the excellent researchers working within their institutions.

It is ASTI’s mission to create a resource for the private sector that rivals USC by providing an aggressive one-stop center for all the pivotal research that is occuring in State.

1.3 Objectives

  • Establish a 42-member corporate research support council and increase corporate membership in ASTI’s Technology Development Council by 20% each year.
  • Facilitate two new industry sponsored research agreements the first year and increase the number of agreements each year.
  • Create new research linkages between the four campuses and develop new collaborative relationships between researchers.
  • Develop a cross-disciplinary research database that will link researchers throughout the state.

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Organization summary organization overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">.

ASTI is a focused program that offers a powerful resource to researchers who are seeking corporate support for research and corporations seeking new technologies.  The program also seeks linkages between the four campus researchers in developing new partnerships that will generate additional corporate interest. 

2.1 Legal Entity

State University, University of AnyState, AnyState Health Sciences University, and AnyCity State University are all share holders in ASTI.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Start-up costs and initial financing are shown on the following table.  Each institution will contribute $40,000 to ASTI’s operating budget.

Government services business plan, organization summary chart image

2.3 Program Location

ASTI will be located in AnyCity, AnyState.  This is a good central location for a state-wide program. AnyCity State University is located in AnyCity.  AnyState Health Sciences University and State University are located in NewTown 60 miles to the north. The University of State is located in OldTown which is 40 miles south of AnyCity.

ASTI’s services include:

New Technology Assist in identifying new invention disclosures for new discoveries and evaluation of these new discoveries to determine commercial potential. A research database will be created and maintained by ASTI in order to respond quickly to requests for information from the private sector, especially when it links researchers on multiple campuses. Companies will have a quick and accessible resource that will identify researchers that match their interest areas. ASTI will also assist in the establishment of new businesses to develop emerging technologies.

Research Collaborations ASTI will actively seek cross-disciplinary collaboration opportunities between researchers on the four member campuses.

Technology Conferences ASTI will sponsor two conferences in Portland each year focusing on the areas of Biotechnology, Material Science, Computer Science, and Medical Technology.

Newsletter and Promotional Publications ASTI will produce a monthly newsletter and quarterly promotional publications directed toward the private sector which will focus on current research on the four campuses and researcher profiles. This material will also highlight researchers seeking corporate support.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

The research enterprise at State University, University of AnyState, AnyState Health Sciences University and AnyCity State University is remarkably broad, deep and diverse, spanning activities in twenty-two academic colleges and more than 40 multidisciplinary programs, centers, programs, and institutes.

ASTI will first focus on creating the information base necessary to satisfy high-technology corporations that are currently prospecting for new technologies. These are mostly larger companies, but also include medium- to small-sized companies.

Our most important group of potential customers are the researchers in these companies. They do not want to waste their time or resources looking for a needle in a haystack. It is critical that they find ASTI an excellent tool in quickly identifying technologies and researchers that will lead to profitable products.

ASTI will provide a two-tier service that will correspond to a company’s membership in ASTI’s Technology Development Council. There will be both a full and associate membership option in the Technology Development Council.   We anticipate that larger companies will select the full membership option because it will offer additional research services.  An associate membership is tailored for the medium- to small-sized companies whose contacts will be less frequent.

4.1 Market Segmentation

Larger Companies:  It is critical to create major stakeholders in the development of a better delivery system for technology transfer. Currently, there are several large companies that have an ongoing relationship with researchers on the four major campuses.  Recruiting these companies as full members of the Technology Development Council is an important first step in improving corporate interest in high-tech members in State.  These companies will be responsive to ASTI’s ability to ferret out the research and researchers that they are interested in reviewing.  ASTI will also facilitate any cross-disciplinary linkages that will lead to the pursuit of research that these companies are interested in. Involvement in the growth of ASTI will attract companies of simular size and stature.

Medium to Small Companies: These companies are critical to the growth of ASTI because they represent the state’s developing high-tech industries.  Their focus in not only on a specific technology that is being developed at one of the member campuses but also on the graduate students that are working on the research. As associate members of the Technology Development Council, these companies will gain greater access to all the research opportunities that will meet their technology and staff needs.

Government services business plan, market analysis summary chart image

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

As indicated by the previous table, we must first focus on all companies that have current relationships with researchers on the member campuses.

4.3 Service Providers Analysis

The private sector’s access to researchers at the member campuses range from excellent in selected disciplines, to completely chaotic and frustrating in most others areas.

ASTI’s goal is to assure access to all critical research through a streamlined process that leaves the company both satisfied with the results as well as the time invested in the search.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

The initial funding from the four member institutions will provide the foundation for launching ASTI.  Its survival will depend on the program’s ability to grow a membership base to its Technology Development Council.  The program will not survive if it is unable to meet its goal of increasing membership in the Council by 20% each year.

ASTI’s information products and services will add real value to the companies search for emerging technology.  As stated before, our most important group of potential customers are the researchers in these companies.  Their input into the kind of services they want will be critical to the evolution of ASTI. Our focus will be to add value in everything connected with ASTI.

5.1 Competitive Edge

ASTI’s competitive advantage is their comprehensive approach to providing unequalled access to researchers. ASTI’s focus is to support the companies in their successful pursuit of emerging technologies. The most critical component is the responsiveness of the program to company inquiries into selected research areas.

The best scenario is the company responding to research highlights provided by ASTI before initial inquires are made.  ASTI will strive to open doors for companies so that long-term relationships will develop and companies will become members of the Technology Development Council. 

The approach is decidedly sales-oriented in focus.  This is a critical advantage when in competition with universities in SouthernState and NorthernState.  Companies will find State research viable and easy to access.

Yet the key to ASTI’s success will be in how the program evolves in response to companies demands.  ASTI’s Technology Development Council was a vehicle for that evolution.  The Council will provide companies with the access to fine-tune services to improve the program’s ability to meet industry demands.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

ASTI’s marketing strategy will be to build the Technology Development Council as a base of support for technology transfer.  The plan is to use existing members of the Council as lead contact for other companies.  The best description of the strategy is the ever-widening ripples when a stone is thrown in a pond.  The first step is to capture all the companies the are currently quite aware of the excellent researchers at the four member institutions. From that base, begin to recruit new companies that current members will invite into the Council.

Though it is possible that fresh contacts to ASTI, from inquiries about technology highlighted in promotional material, can lead to companies joining the Council, it will be the membership of the Council that will drive the success of the program.

5.3 Fundraising Strategy

The fund raising strategy will be the payment of annual membership fees in the Technology Development Council.  A full membership will be $3,000 a year.  An associate membership will be $1,000.

5.3.1 Funding Forecast

During the first year, ASTI will recruit 20 full members and 21 associate members to the Technology Development Council.

Government services business plan, strategy and implementation summary chart image

5.4 Milestones

ASTI’s milestones are as follows:

  • Within the first six months of operation to assemble the Technology Development Council membership.
  • Publish the first ASTI monthly newsletter in December.
  • Stage high tech conferences in AnyCity during the month of March and September in 2002.
  • Achieve two new industry sponsored research agreements with researchers at the member institutions during the first year of operation.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

ASTI’s director is John Doe.  He is excited about the state’s vision of establishing a technology transfer consortium involving the state’s strongest corporate citizens. “These are ideas that many people have shared and promoted,” Doe said. “I’m hoping to work with units around the state to implement these and other ideas related to research agreements with industry.” Doe understands the need for State to strengthen connections with the private sector.

He joins ASTI from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in MoneyCity, State, where he worked as technology transfer manager in the Environmental Technology Division. He has a Ph.D. in low-temperature geochemistry from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and a post-doctoral fellow from Yale University.

He believes the technology transfer consortium is a natural mechanism to allow large and small enterprises to make use of the expertise at the member institutions and allow faculty to participate in entrepreneurial pursuits. “I will promote ideas such as an entrepreneurial sabbatical for faculty where they could pursue business start-ups and the universities will receive some benefit in return,” Doe said. “I’m excited about the opportunities and look forward to working with the Technology Development Council and promoting the critical research efforts occuring at the institutions that ASTI represents.”

6.1 Personnel Plan

ASTI’s director position is full-time.  In addition, ASTI will also have three full-time employees; a research associate that will be responsible for research data collection, a communication associate who will be responsible for the program’s publications, and a full-time administrative assistant.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections will outline important financial information.

7.1 Break-even Analysis

The following table shows what our break-even point will be to cover our montuhly costs.

Government services business plan, financial plan chart image

7.2 Projected Surplus or Deficit

The following table will indicate projected surplus and deficit.

Government services business plan, financial plan chart image

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following table and chart illustrate the projected cash flow.

Government services business plan, financial plan chart image

7.4 Standard Ratios

The following table compares our standard ratios with the Standard Industry Code #8748, Other Management Consulting Services.

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  • 4 strategies to help maximize government funding for your business

Plan – Analyze – Stack – Leverage

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The Canadian federal and provincial governments offer more than $37 billion in tax credits, grants and other funding every year to help boost the economy and increase competitiveness across high priority sectors.

Many companies may have limited knowledge about the programs available, and few resources to develop a strong funding plan and take advantage of the tax incentive opportunities – including navigating and understanding their requirements and applications.

Taking a strategic approach to government incentives can help

The government funding landscape can be overwhelming due to its vast nature – and only looking at programs on an individual basis can lead to missed opportunities, leaving critical funding on the table. Instead, consider taking a strategic approach to maximize the funding you are able to access through various government incentive programs – starting with these four key steps:

  • Plan  ahead and identify future expenditures that may qualify for funding. Many government programs have specific application intake periods, limiting when you can apply and what you can apply for. You want to ensure you map out your projects and align them with available funding programs in order to achieve the maximum benefit.
  • Analyze  each program’s eligible expenditures and ensure you capture all costs directly related to the project throughout its lifecycle. Examine each phase of your project and identify all associated costs to help maximize the benefits.
  • Stack  applications for the same project costs where possible. Most programs have prescribed stacking limitations that provide guidance when you request funding related to a single project through multiple programs.
  • Leverage  multiple programs to cover all facets of the company business growth initiative. You may be able to apply to several incentive programs to capture different aspects of the overall initiative and help increase the amount of funding you receive.

Writing grant/funding applications: tips and tricks for maximum impact

  • Know the program’s desired outcomes and communicate your project accordingly
  • Make connections to the program guidelines using key concepts, objectives, and phrases
  • Conduct an independent review of the application
  • Use supporting documents (where applicable) to overcome word count restrictions

Stacking and leveraging for success: How an agri-food business took their funding plan to the next level

An agri-food processing business had a multi-year vision for their organizational growth. They were looking to accelerate their existing processes by investing in new equipment, which can be costly. After attempting to access government funding through both internal and external avenues, they found little success.

The funding landscape in Canada can be complex – but the KPMG Tax Incentives team helped the agri-food business navigate through it. As a first step, they took the project plan to the next level by considering a full, detailed scope of implementation and project budget, including activities needed to facilitate the installation of the major planned equipment. By aligning a deep knowledge of government funding programs with business growth initiatives, the KPMG Tax Incentives team helped identify and develop a systematic approach to government funding based on company expenditures. The experienced team of professionals and their understanding of the government funding landscape, stacking limitations, and eligibility criteria helped maximize funding opportunities by leveraging multiple funding programs.

The agri-food business was approved for funding through several government incentive programs to secure nearly $2 million in funding support from both federal and provincial funding agencies. These funding opportunities helped plant the seeds for the agri-food business’ future growth!

How we can help

Government incentive programs are often complex, and have limited and sometimes short application intake periods, which can be challenging to manage. Few organizations have the internal resources available to stay on top of federal and provincial incentives, their guidelines, requirements, and deadlines, as well as the knowledge and insight to prepare applications that stand out amongst the high volume of other competitive submissions.

KPMG in Canada can help you through every stage of your funding application journey – from planning your approach and understanding the Canadian tax incentive/funding landscape, to developing the application and submitting reporting packages to receive the secured funding. We can help you achieve the best possible funding benefits from your incentive applications, and stay on track throughout your project's funding lifecycle.

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Small Business Development

  • Cooperatives Incentives Scheme

Black Business Supplier Development Programme

  • Khula Enterprise Finance Ltd
  • South African Micro-Finance Apex Fund

Technology for Sustainable Livelihoods

  • Registering Your Business
  • National Youth Service
  • South African Women in Construction
  • Technology for Women in Business

Gender and Women Empowerment Unit

Small enterprise development agency (seda).

Seda   supports the growth of small business. People can go to Seda for help to start a business or, if they already have a business, to make it stronger and more profitable. There is a Seda branch in each district municipality. These branches offer:

  • information, advice and referrals
  • tender information and advice
  • import and export training
  • trade information
  • business assessments and business mentoring
  • technical support
  • market access
  • business linkages

In addition to helping individuals in business, Seda has a special focus on co-operative enterprises , where a group of entrepreneurs share the profits and responsibility of a business.

Contact Seda :  012 441 1000 Business Information Centre :  0860 103 703 Website : www.seda.org.za

How to write a business plan

The first thing you need to do is state clearly and specifically what your business idea is. Very simply, you need to say what you intend doing, how you plan on doing it, when you plan to do it and why you believe you will succeed. In the process of doing that, you need to do some research into whether your idea and your plan will really work.  Your business plan should cover four main areas:

  • Your strategic focus (your “niche”, or “core business”):  What exactly is it that your business will do? What makes it special? What won’t your business do?
  • The marketing plan: How are you going to promote your product?  How are you going to price your product?  How do you plan on getting your product to your market?
  • The operations plan: What staff will you have and what will they do?  Who will supply you with what you need?  How will you manage your business?
  • The financial plan: What profits and losses will you make?  How much sales do you need to make to break even?  How much cash do you need to cover costs each month?  What is the source of your funds?  How will you use your funds?  If you need a loan, then what can you offer as security for that loan?

Important advice:

  • Work out how big your market is (the total number of people who will buy your product).
  • Is the market growing or not?  (Is there increasing demand for your product or is there an over-supply?)
  • List all the factors about your business that will bring you success (e.g.  is it in a good place, is it cheap, is it very high quality?).

Look carefully at your situation and make a list of the following:

  • your strengths and weaknesses in comparison with your competitors
  • all the obvious market opportunities and threats
  • the advantages you have over your competitors
  • advantages that your competitors have over you
  • ways of using your advantages to your benefit
  • how you will deal with the disadvantages you face
  • what must be done, when it must be done and how it be done.

Co-operatives Incentive Scheme (CIS)

Successful applicants are given cash grants so that their cooperative can obtain good quality services that will help them to grow their business. The Cooperative Incentive Scheme helps cooperatives from all industries: textiles, services, energy, agriculture, print, film, and video production, consumer and housing. For a cooperative to qualify for a grant, it needs to:

  • be mainly black-owned
  • be actively helping to create employment and overcome poverty
  • be registered according to the Cooperatives Act, 14 of 2005
  • have a simple Business Plan, which must be attached to applications forms
  • provide quotations for the services for which it requires funding.

How to register a co-operative

To register your cooperative, you will need to fill in Form CR1 – Application for registration of primary/secondary/tertiary cooperative. You will then be notified of the other forms you will need to fill in, in the course of registering your cooperative.

Contact the Department of Trade and Industry: 012 394-1425/394-1608 Website: www.thedti.gov.za

This programme offers grants in a cost-sharing scheme to black-owned business for the purpose of business skills training. It offers support to black-owned enterprises by helping to improve their core competencies and management abilities, and enabling them to become more competitive. The scheme helps people with promotional marketing materials, software development and other activities such as quality improvement, processes and product improvement.

Companies that are majority black-owned (15% or more) and which have a significant representation of black managers on their management team quality for the grant. Companies should not earn more than R12 million per annum and must have been trading for at least a year. They need to be registered with CIPRO and with SARS. The maximum grant for which a single company can qualify is R100 000.

Application procedure : Obtain application guidelines and an application form.  Complete the application form. Obtain and attach a tax clearance certificate, and submit the application.

Contact the Department of Trade and Industry Customer Care Centre :  0861 843 384 Website : www.thedti.gov.za

Finance for Small Businesses

Khula enterprise finance ltd.

Khula helps SMMEs to get loans from banks. It does not lend money itself. Khula also provides mentorship to entrepreneurs, helping them to manage their businesses successfully. The mentorship programme includes the transfer of skills on a face-to-face basis, the development of viable business plans, and pre- and post-loan services.

Contact Khula :  012 394-5560/5900 or 0800 11 88 15 Website :  www.khula.org.za

South African Micro Finance Apex Fund (Samaf)

Samaf gives financial services to small-scale entrepreneurs living in rural and outer urban areas. Samaf does not lend money directly to the public. It uses existing institutions within communities to handle the funds and lend to qualifying entrepreneurs. Samaf has three products:  the Micro-Credit Fund (gives loans to entrepreneurs), the Capacity Building Fund (gives funds to be used for equipping the institutions with skills, system and equipment) and the Savings Mobilisation Fund (encourages savings).

Contact Samaf :  012 394-1805 Websites : www.samaf.org.za ; www.thedti.gov.za

This is a programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It aims to create jobs for communities by helping to establish SMMEs. In particular, it makes use of technologies which can add value to SMMEs and makes them accessible to communities. At the same time, the programme helps to make these SMMEs successful by offering skills development and training.

The DST offers technological assistance in the following areas:

  • Aquaculture : Communities are trained to farm indigenous fish as a business. They receive technology in terms of infrastructure (production cages) and training to manage a fish farm, including diseases and harvesting.
  • Essential oils: These are valuable oils that are extracted from the leaves and flowers of plants. Communities benefit from skills development and training, and their businesses are linked to the local essential oils market.
  • Indigenous medicinal plants :  Communities are taught to grow indigenous herbs commercially. These plants have special medicinal properties which have been scientifically proven. Communities receive training in farming methods and in how to start a commercial enterprise and their businesses are linked to local markets.

The DST does not support individuals, only communities and community groups. These communities are then helped to form a viable community business, in the form of a Section 21 Company or cooperative. In order to use these technologies and produce valuable crops in essential oils and indigenous medicinal plants, communities need to have access to suitable agricultural land.  Similarly, communities that want to benefit from fish farming must have access to irrigation dams.

Contact the DST Technology for Sustainable Livelihoods :   012 843-6421/18

Registering your business

When you start a business, it needs to be registered. To do so, fill in the relevant forms and submit them to the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO).

Contact CIPRO :  0861 843 384

Support For Youth

The Umsobomvu Youth Fund helps youth set up, expand and develop their businesses by teaching them essential business skills. Umsobomvu has the following programmes:

  • The Franchise Fund helps youth to start and maintain their businesses. Through loans and a voucher system, it helps young people to access business support.
  • Entrepreneurship Education Training: This training is aimed at helping young people understand the concepts and principles of entrepreneurship and business.
  • Cooperative Training: This is basic training for young people on setting up and running a youth cooperative business.
  • Graduate Development Training: This is a training programme for unemployed graduates to enhance their life and professional skills.
  • Business Consulting Services Voucher: These are services designed to help youth set up, expand or develop their businesses.

Umsobomvu youth Advisory Centres (YACs) are walk-in centres around the country where youth can receive information, training and referrals services – in fact, everything they need to find employment or start their own businesses. YACs provide outreach services to communities that are unable to get to the centres, by taking career information, skills development and entrepreneurial advice to local schools in Mobile YACs.

Contact Umsobomvu :  08600 YOUTH (96884) Contact Umsobomvu Business Partnership :  011 470-3111 Websites :  www.youthportal.org.za

National Youth Service (NYS)

The National Youth Services is about involving young people in the development of our country. It is an opportunity for young people to actively serve their communities. The National Youth Service Programme aims to create a culture of service. It develops the skills, knowledge and abilities of young people. It also improves youth employability by giving opportunities for work experience and skills development, and by providing further learning opportunities.

For more information on the NYS, turn to the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Support For Women

South african women in construction (sawic).

Sawic is a national association of women enterprises or professionals and technical staff in all areas of construction, from the skilled trades to business ownership, with international affiliation to the National association of Women in Construction (Nawic). Sawic administers, facilitates, advocates and lobbies all the Departments of Public Works for the empowerment of its members.

Contact Sawic :  012 337-2400/2174

Technology for Women in Business (TWIB)

This programme aims to make science and technology more accessible to women in business, especially those in SMMEs.

Contact TWIB :  012 394-1644 Website :  www.twib.co.za

The Gender and Women Empowerment Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) manages the South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN). SAWEN helps women overcome the obstacles that they still experience in business.

It compiles a database of women-owned enterprises, in order to help women help one another. It organises networking forums, facilitates capacity-building programmes, and lobbies and advocates for policies that support women entrepreneurs.

Contact the Department of Trade and Industry:  012 394-1606

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Intel’s AI Reboot Is the Future of US Chipmaking

DMX pickandplace tool for the stacking of Foveros packaging technology at an Intel fab in Oregon.

Call it a comeback—with consequences not just for Intel but also the US government’s hopes of maintaining a lead in artificial intelligence . The troubled chipmaker’s CEO, Pat Gelsinger, announced today that Intel is relaunching and expanding its foundry business, which manufactures chip designs for other companies.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also appeared at the Intel event, where he announced that his company will use Intel’s relaunched foundry to make future chips. That’s a major coup for the chipmaker as it seeks to become relevant again and compete with the world’s leading foundry, Taiwan’s TSMC , which makes chips for customers that include Apple and Google.

“We will need a reliable supply of the most advanced high-performance and high-quality semiconductors,” Nadella said. “That's why we're so excited to work with Intel foundry services.” He said that Microsoft’s chips will be produced using Intel's new 18A manufacturing process, which the chipmaker said today would be available later this year. Intel says 18A will be competitive with the most advanced offerings from its leading rivals, Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung.

Gelsinger said that the 18A process was the result of two years of intense work that yielded advances that might normally take a decade. He said that Intel’s goal is to become the world’s second placed foundry by 2030. TSMC is currently the world leader.

A factory tool that places lids on data center systemonchips at an Intel fab in Chandler Arizona.

Intel’s foundry move is aimed at tapping the recent generative-AI boom to revitalize a company that has slipped from its place at the pinnacle of the tech industry over the past few decades. Intel failed to anticipate the importance of mobile computing a decade ago and also lost its manufacturing edge by choosing not to adopt the most advanced lithography techniques used to carve out silicon chips.

Intel also missed out on being the leader in chips used in machine-learning projects. Rival Nvidia , which mints chips with TSMC, became the AI industry’s workhorse and has seen its business soar. But Gelsinger argues that with AI still growing fast and millions of AI chips expected to be needed, Intel can become a major player. Generative AI “is transforming everything about computing,” he said at the company event in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday. “Through our foundry I want to manufacture every AI chip in the industry.”

The success of Intel’s new plan is crucial not only to the company but also the hopes of the wider US tech industry and US government of being a world leader in AI and semiconductors .

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Gina Raimondo, the US secretary of commerce, spoke at Intel’s event today and compared the US government’s current focus on revitalizing its chip industry to the space race of the 1960s. “The fact that we are so overly dependent on a couple of countries in Asia that we need for life-saving medical equipment, cars, every piece of technology, showed us we’ve got to get back to work making more chips,” Raimondo said.

Intel’s new foundry strategy will involve breaking out the new unit’s financials to let investors see how that part of the business is operating. “We're not fixing one company; we're establishing two vibrant new organizations,” Gelsinger said.

An Intel factory employee holds a wafer with 3D stacked Foveros technology at an Intel fab in Hillsboro Oregon.

Now all Intel needs is more customers willing to trust it with the future of their business. Some chip industry insiders say the company’s revamped foundry plans seem more likely to succeed than previous attempts to revive Intel’s fortunes.

“Before Pat joined they really didn’t have an understanding of the foundry market,” says Dan Hutcheson, a long-time chip industry analyst with Tech Insights. “This has steadily improved. The messaging is much more focused, and they are picking up customers, which proves they are doing something right.”

Gelsinger took over as CEO of Intel in 2021 with the company on a downward trajectory following several high-profile missteps. He promised an aggressive comeback plan that would involve developing more competitive chips of its own while also regaining an engineering edge in manufacturing and offering that up to other firms.

Hutcheson says the company’s biggest edge may be that it can offer advanced packaging of newly carved chips into working components, guaranteed supply lines, and other ancillary chipmaking solutions that customers see as more secure in an uncertain world. “Their biggest point of differentiation seems to be that they are a strategic alternative to TSMC,” he says.

Intel’s decline has caused concern in the US national security establishment because of the importance of computer chips and the extraordinary potential of AI. China’s technology ambitions and the potentially vulnerable location of most of TSMC’s factories in Taiwan has caused fears that US access to the world’s best chips could be cut off. In 2022, the US government passed the CHIPS Act promising $52 billion to reinvigorate domestic chipmaking and secure silicon supply lines. According to a Bloomberg report , Intel is in line to receive $10 billion of that money.

Intel apparently believes it could make use of even more government cash. Onstage today Gelsinger asked Secretary Raimondo if the US government might need a second CHIPs act. “I suspect there will have to be—whether you call it CHIPS Two or something else—continued investment if we want to lead the world,” Raimondo said.

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Biden student loan forgiveness plan: Administration reveals who may qualify

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  • The Biden administration released its proposal for which struggling borrowers should qualify for its new student loan forgiveness plan.
  • It said that receiving a Pell Grant, having a disability and a person's age could be factors signaling hardship.

The Biden administration has released its proposal for which struggling borrowers should qualify for its new student loan forgiveness plan.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority blocked President Joe Biden 's first aid package last year. In an effort to create a loan forgiveness program that is legally viable, the Biden administration is working to narrow the relief by focusing on certain groups of borrowers, including those with balances greater than what they originally borrowed and students from schools of questionable quality.

Its new proposal concerns borrowers experiencing financial hardship , the category that has remained the most vague.

The U.S. Department of Education outlined on Thursday a set of factors that could identify struggling borrowers, such as those with student loan balances and required payments that are unreasonable relative to their household income, and people with high child-care and health-care expenses. It also said that financial hardship could be based on other debt obligations, disability, or age, among other factors.

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"The ideas we are outlining today will allow us to help struggling borrowers who are experiencing hardships in their lives, and they are part of President Biden's overall plan to give breathing room to as many student loan borrowers as possible," Department of Education Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a statement.

At one point, it seemed possible that the "financial hardship" category had been dropped from what has become known as  Biden's Plan B for student loan forgiveness . While Biden first attempted to cancel student debt through an executive order, he has now turned to the rulemaking process.

Over three rulemaking sessions, the negotiators tasked with determining who will be eligible for the president's revised relief plan identified several  categories  that could signal hardship. Those include borrowers who received a Pell Grant or qualified for a health insurance subsidy on the Affordable Care Act's marketplace.

But the Education Department did not include language on borrowers in hardship in its relief proposal, and the negotiators didn't get to vote on the category.

Shortly after the rulemaking sessions, lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. and Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.,  wrote  to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Jan. 24., pressuring him to still consider struggling borrowers for relief.

"We are concerned that, without full consideration of cancellation targeted toward borrowers facing financial hardship, the rule will not provide adequate debt relief for the most vulnerable borrowers," the lawmakers said.

The Biden administration seems to have heard those worries. The Education Dept. said it will hold an additional rulemaking session on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, during which the negotiating committee will focus exclusively on financially strapped borrowers. Its own proposal suggests the category could cover millions of Americans.

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IRS begins audits of corporate jet usage; part of larger effort to ensure high-income groups don’t fly under the radar on tax responsibilities

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IR-2024-46, Feb. 21, 2024

WASHINGTON — Using Inflation Reduction Act funding and as part of ongoing efforts to improve tax compliance in high-income categories, the Internal Revenue Service announced today plans to begin dozens of audits on business aircraft involving personal use.

The audits will be focused on aircraft usage by large corporations, large partnerships and high-income taxpayers and whether for tax purposes the use of jets is being properly allocated between business and personal reasons.

The IRS will be using advanced analytics and resources from the Inflation Reduction Act to more closely examine this area, which has not been closely scrutinized during the past decade as agency resources fell sharply. The number of audits related to aircraft usage could increase in the future following initial results and as the IRS continues hiring additional examiners.

“During tax season, millions of people are doing the right thing by filing and paying their taxes, and they should have confidence that everyone is also following the law,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Personal use of corporate jets and other aircraft by executives and others have tax implications, and it’s a complex area where IRS work has been stretched thin. With expanded resources, IRS work in this area will take off. These aircraft audits will help ensure high-income groups aren’t flying under the radar with their tax responsibilities.”

Business aircraft are often used for both business and personal reasons by officers, executives, other employees, shareholders and partners. In general, the tax code passed by Congress allows a business deduction for expenses of maintaining an asset, such as a corporate jet, if that asset is utilized for a business purpose. However, the use of a company aircraft must be allocated between business use and personal use. This is a complex area of tax law, and record-keeping can be challenging.

For someone such as an executive using the company jet for personal travel, the amount of personal usage impacts eligibility for certain business deductions. Use of the company jet for personal travel typically results in income inclusion by the individual using the jet for personal travel and could also impact the business’s eligibility to deduct costs related to the personal travel.

The examination of corporate jet usage is part of the IRS Large Business and International division’s “campaign” program. Campaigns apply different compliance streams to help address areas with a high risk of non-compliance. These efforts include issue-focused examinations, taxpayer outreach and education, tax form changes and focusing on particular issues that present a high risk of noncompliance.

The IRS will begin conducting examinations in the near future as part of the agency’s commitment to ensuring fairness in tax administration.

This is part of a larger effort  the IRS is taking to ensure large corporate, large partnerships and high-income individual filers pay the taxes they owe. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, more than a decade of budget cuts prevented the IRS from keeping pace with the increasingly complicated set of tools that the wealthiest taxpayers use to shelter or manipulate their income to avoid taxes. The IRS is now taking swift and aggressive action to close this gap.

In addition to work on corporate jets, the IRS has a variety of efforts underway to improve tax compliance in complex, overlooked high-dollar areas where the agency did not have adequate resources prior to Inflation Reduction Act funding.

For example, the IRS is continuing to pursue millionaires that have not paid hundreds of millions of dollars in tax debt. The IRS has already collected $482 million in ongoing efforts to recoup taxes owed by 1,600 millionaires with action continuing in this area. Elsewhere, the IRS is pursuing multi-million-dollar partnership balance sheet discrepancies, ramping up audits of more than 75 of the largest partnerships using artificial intelligence (AI) as well as other areas .

"The IRS continues to increase scrutiny on high-income taxpayers as we work to reverse the historic low audit rates and limited focus that the wealthiest individuals and organizations faced in the years that predated the Inflation Reduction Act,” Werfel said. “We are adding staff and technology to ensure that the taxpayers with the highest income, including partnerships, large corporations and millionaires and billionaires, pay what is legally owed under federal law. The IRS will have more announcements to make in this important area."

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  15. What Are Small Business Grants and How to Get Them

    A business grant is a specific type of grant provided to businesses, often small enterprises or startups. These grants are awarded by governments, corporations, or foundations to stimulate economic growth, promote innovation, and support the development of certain industries or communities.

  16. Guide to Startup Business Grants

    $50k in revenue 6 mos. in business 560 credit score What is a startup business grant? If you didn't know what a startup business grant is, it does just what it sounds like. It grants funding to startups, small businesses, or nonprofits—and the funding comes from an organization or the government.

  17. How to write the business plan for a grant application?

    A grant application is a document or set of documents that is submitted to a grant-giving body with the purpose of securing funding for a startup or an existing business venture. Normally, grants are awarded to small businesses with the aim of generating jobs, energizing local communities and strengthening the economy.

  18. Government Services Business Plan Example

    In addition, USS has received $20 million in corporate research funding last year. This far exceeds the total for all corporate research funding for the four State schools ($3 million) during the same period. In State, the State Technology Center has secured $91 million in private funding for technology transfer from the University of State.

  19. 4 Strategies to help maximize government funding

    The experienced team of professionals and their understanding of the government funding landscape, stacking limitations, and eligibility criteria helped maximize funding opportunities by leveraging multiple funding programs. The agri-food business was approved for funding through several government incentive programs to secure nearly $2 million ...

  20. Home

    Reminder: Federal agencies do not publish personal financial assistance opportunities on Grants.gov. Federal funding opportunities published on Grants.gov are for organizations and entities supporting the development and management of government-funded programs and projects. For more information about personal financial assistance benefits, please visit Benefits.gov.

  21. Small Business Development

    information, advice and referrals. business assessments and business mentoring. In addition to helping individuals in business, Seda has a special focus on co-operative enterprises, where a group of entrepreneurs share the profits and responsibility of a business. : 012 441 1000 Business Information Centre : 0860 103 703 www.seda.org.za.

  22. Boost Your Business Technology Grant

    Find the right technologies for your business and build a digital adoption plan with a grant of up to $15,000. Propel your business forward. Find the right technologies for your business and build a digital adoption plan with a grant of up to $15,000. Apply for up to $15,000 in grants + up to $100,000 in 0% financing. ... About government ...

  23. PDF 2023 SBA Small Business National Resource Guide

    10 Steps to Start Your Business 19 Write Your Business Plan 22 Choose Your Business Structure 23 How the SBA Supports Undeserved Small Business Communities 25 Opportunities for Veterans 27 Federal and State ID Numbers Funding Programs 28 Success Story: Rachel Kalenberg, co-founder, Pizza Carrello 32 Need Financing?

  24. Intel's AI Reboot Is the Future of US Chipmaking

    Intel also missed out on being the leader in chips used in machine-learning projects. Rival Nvidia, which mints chips with TSMC, became the AI industry's workhorse and has seen its business soar ...

  25. Privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage reimbursement rates

    Socio economic categories Check your eligibility for small-business set-asides. Training and videos Suggested training for doing business with us. ... Plan and book expand menu. Per diem rates. Transportation (airfare rates, POV rates, etc.) Lodging. ... If Government-furnished automobile is available January 1, 2024: $0.21 Motorcycle

  26. Biden administration reveals who may qualify for student loan relief

    The Biden administration released its proposal for which struggling borrowers should qualify for its new student loan forgiveness plan. It said that receiving a Pell Grant, having a disability and ...

  27. IRS begins audits of corporate jet usage; part of larger effort to

    IR-2024-46, Feb. 21, 2024 — Using Inflation Reduction Act funding and as part of ongoing efforts to improve tax compliance in high-income categories, the Internal Revenue Service announced today plans to begin dozens of audits on business aircraft involving personal use.

  28. 2024 Budget in a nutshell

    Grant recipients. The government has provisionally allocated funding for the social relief grant it started paying the unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic until March 2027.

  29. Nigeria's currency crises to be chipped at with a $10 billion fund

    The Nigerian government has revealed plans to address its ongoing currency challenges by seeking $10 billion in funding. In a nutshell, the plan is to bolster liquidity in the foreign exchange market, in light of the Nigerian Naira's devaluation to a historic low of N1850/$1.