Anyone Know About Govt Grants For Small Businesses?
 

Supposedly there's a ton of money available to expand and/or to start small businesses in the US.

There are TONS of services who claim they can help you secure these funds.

From what I can tell, they are mostly just scams.

They guarantee you will be approved for grant money, but to help you write up the proposals necessary to apply for this money they charge a substantial upfront fee.

If it is a guarantee that they will help you secure govt grant money, then why not charge a small percentage on the back end?

Supposedly most of these available grants are between $50K and $250K. Most of these grant assistant programs charge you in the area of $2,500 for their time.

If they take 2.5% of the grant funds awarded to you, they should be fine.

Have any of you ever applied for a small business grant? Any information?

Thanks in advance!

You may be able to get a Research and Development Grant, if you are doing some important research that will result in many profits.

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplan..._GRANTRES.html
click around there to get more info

From what I understand they are very hard to get. I have never tried to get one, but a friend of mine did and he was never able to. He went to the SBA and they told him right from the start that there was almost no chance that he would get any grant money.

That said, if you are starting a business that falls within a very specific defined area that the government has an interest in and you know or get to know some people you might be able to pull it off. For example, right now the government is investing in green technology. If you have a "green" business that will create jobs and further the technology you might be able to get some grant money.

If you are just looking for some money to open a pizza parlor or start a landscaping business, I wouldn't hold my breath.