Of course the first step you need to take is the search for a grant program for your small businesses and the next step is the grant application.

The first step I mentioned is easier said than done. There are various resources you can reach out to for searching for that elusive grant for you. I have listed out a few of the most valuable resources which are a must for you if you want to have that complete information about the government grants for small business.

Small Business Administration – This is an agency of the federal government to aid and assist the small business and this is what it says on it’s websit sba.gov “The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation”.

State Economic development Offices – The other resource to go to is the state’s economic development office. As is known that there is nothing which is known as federal government grants, so you best bet is the state government and almost all the states have their economic developlment wings which you can visit to get more information about the grants for small businesses in your particular state.

Small business development centres or SBDC’s give out free information and counseliing for first time business owners plus they offer assistance for minority members of the community and for economically disadvanatged groups. There are about 100s SBDC’s across the country.

SCORE – Another non proft organization that can guide you and help you in your small business and this is what they say on their website “SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)”

Grants.gov – A government owned information storehouse of everything that is grants. It says on it’s website “Today, Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards.”

Foundation center – This is also a powerhouse of information of grant makers and has the most comprehensive database of grants and grant makers.

Hopefully, the above resources will hlep in securing that coveted grant for you and in turn your small business into a thriving business.

Let me clear the air for you, most US government departments like the Deptt of Commerce, do not provide grants for small businesses.Most of the grants you would find will be through the state government organizations and they also tie it up to a specific objective they are pursuing like the minority uplifment or specific fields like cancer research or education or even more specific like aglicultural communities etc.

This then begets the question that whether grants for small business owner like you are really worth pursuing.On an average it may take upto two weeks of search for you to find a specific grant. Finding is always not enough , you need to meet the spcific eligibility criteria for the grant like experience, sex, community etc. Now you stop and think again if you need to spend your time going through the application process.Think about the process and ask your a few probing questions because at the start up stage for you time is money.

Will you be able to spare time for searching the grant that meets your requirment? Weeks can go by without you finding a grant that fite the bill.

Do you have the money or rather would like to spend the money to hire a consultant or a grant writer?You can spend this money in marketing, promotion or simply put it in researching your market.

Think whether you really need the money at this stage of the business or you could live without it for the initial year or two ?

There are a number of resources there to help you find the right grant like the Foundation center or the Grant.gov or even the small business administration website.Browse through them and you will be able to zero in on a few possibilities.

Some tips will come in handy for applying the grant, which means you can save some time and reduce the odss of rejection.

1) Accuracy and transparency is one of the foremost requirement when writing a grant application.

2) Make sure you know everything about the deaprtment you are applying to, in turn it will help you understand the constraints and work those in your favor.

3) Use consultants and experts if needed. Also, use a consultant for preparing a well laid out business plan.

If you have already decided that grants for small business outweigh the demands on your time, then make sure that you are diligent and thorough coupled with lots of patience and persistence.