Startup Grants & Sources of Finance for Small Businesses in America

In the United States, many different federal grants exist to help during your small business startup phase. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is an excellent place to begin your research. Depending upon the industry you are in, or the type of personal background you have, you may qualify for no-interest grants or very low-interest loans. America was built on entrepreneurs, and the SBA continues to support them.
If you’re a woman, or any other minority, you can also access certain grants specific to your demographic that others may not be eligible for. Searching for these grants is not unlike searching for college scholarships, in that many are offered by different groups and associations that cater to individuals like them – women’s organizations lend money to woman, and so on. For example, womenwork.org can offer several grant opportunities for woman launching a small business startup. Similarly, if you are an African-American or other minority looking to launch your own enterprise, you may want to consult the grant opportunities listed at government grants for minorities.

Startup Grants & Sources of Finance for Small Businesses in the UK

The United Kingdom is one of the best places in the world to launch and grow a small business startup. Most small business startups are eligible for many various grants at any given time, though it may not seem that way when you first begin searching. In the UK, you can apply for a direct grant, which is paid to you in cash, and may be used for things like hiring and training employees, or for capital to invest in business projects.

Another option is the repayable grant, which is just what it sounds like, though it’s intended that the grant be repaid with business profits. In the event that the endeavour the grant funded doesn’t succeed, the grant does not have to be repaid.

A third possibility is a soft loan, which in essence is a loan in which the terms of paying the loan back are more lenient than would be the case with a typical commercial loan.

The UK National Government issues many of all three of the above types of loans; in fact, the number of national agencies that award these loans throughout the UK is more than 100. The European Commission may also be a reliable source for finding funds all throughout the continent.

Starting your small business is an exciting venture – and when you find the right sources of startup finance, you give your enterprise the opportunity to flourish to its fullest potential.