Saturday, July 26, 2008

The Truth About Government Grants For Small Businesses

By James Redder

Hopefully you are here reading this article for effective information on government grants for small businesses. Before we get started you should be aware of the fact that not having to repay grant money is a huge advantage to starting a new business. What are the cons? The biggest disadvantage to this method of raising funds is the necessary paperwork and bureaucratic inertia you will have to deal with. However, the business you start from this type of funding will more then compensate your efforts.

Select The Right Grant

It can be time consuming and frustrating to locate the right grant. This point is easily proven by looking at any of the many online grant sites. The grants are usually grouped by foundation and sometimes state and have literally thousands of grants available. Education is the key to finding them efficiently.

Finding the grant that will work for your specific circumstances should be your main concern. This problem has a ready made solution just check the resource box. Being able to match your specific circumstances to a specific grants requirements will be your main chore unless you choose to utilize the resources from the resource box.

Resources Needed

The federal small business government grant process is very similar to getting a loan from a traditional bank. You will need to provide at the very least tax information, financial reports and business numbers.

Make it a point to find an accountant well versed in your specific corporate industry and who has relative experience with businesses related to yours. By doing this as an initial step you will be able to create a grant application that has relevant and reasonable commerce financial information. You can see all of the unnecessary effort and time that can be saved by choosing the right accountant.

A business plan is required for parts of the grant process. Make sure your accountant has relevant experience in providing the financials for a business plan.

Next on the agenda is to find a competent attorney who has experience in the grant application process. Keep in mind that your own specific grant application may not be big enough to require the services of an attorney. But if it does then don't hesitate to find one at once.

By finding an attorney who has experience in the grant application process they should be in a place to guide you past common novice mistakes. If they have worked in the industry long enough they should also be able to recommend other needed resources.

Closing

Now that you have read this article on government grants for small business you have been exposed to some of the main issues facing small businesses. First, there will be a lot of time and effort required to find the grant that fits your specific circumstances. If you want to bypass this concern then see the resource box. Second, even though you want to keep expenses at a minimum before you get a grant there are some resources that will be a must. You will definitely need a good accountant well versed in your industry to provide business numbers as well as feedback for your business plan. You may need an attorney as well depending on the size of the grant you are pursuing. Information is potential power and being able to apply that information is when things happen. If you are ready to do just that then check my resource box for information that will assist you during the grant application process.

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