Personal and Business Loans

There is a lot of misinformation being spread around about the availability of grants for businesses–especially since the economic stimulus funds were announced in February, 2009. Perception is not reality though and the truth is that there is not an abundance of “free government money” available to small businesses just for the asking. 

You’ve probably heard or seen the advertisements and websites that that claim that they can show you how to tap into hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to start or expand a business that the U.S. government “gives” away each year. Despite what these people would have you believe, the government isn’t just “giving away” money to small businesses. There are however, lots of opportunities for small businesses to connect with Federal dollars. First though, you need to understand a few things. Here are the facts about business grants: 

1. Nearly all federal grants–even stimulus grants–go to states, local government agencies, schools or universities and qualified nonprofit organizations. Most Federal grants given to businesses are for specific purposes relating to the development of advanced technologies and renewable energy development.

2. Every federal grant program is for a specific purpose, has required activities and requires that the recipient account for every dollar. If the specified activities aren’t carried out or the money isn’t accounted for properly, there are very serious consequences.

3. All of the “secret” information that people will try to sell you is available for free at your local library or on the Internet. 

What the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says:   

4. Don’t ever pay any money for a “free” government grant. It’s not free if you have to pay for it. Government agencies would never ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded – or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov

5. Never give your bank account information to someone you do not know. Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don’t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.

6. Look-alikes aren’t the real thing. Just because the caller says he’s from the “Federal Grants Administration” or something similar, it doesn’t mean that he is. There is no such government agency. Take a moment to check the blue pages in your telephone directory to bear out your hunch – or not. 

7. File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online on their website (www.ftc.gov) or call 1-877-382-4357. 

If you are interested in learning about legitimate sources for business grant information, a good place to start is with your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office. The SBA does not offer business grants but they can help you connect with the proper resources for uncovering local, state and Federal business grant opportunities and they also may be able to guide you in the proper direction if you’re interested in pursuing cooperative agreements or contracting opportunities with the Federal government. 

Alternatively, you can also work with a professional business grants consultant. These are persons who are skilled in navigating the Federal maze and can help your business connect with local, state and Federal dollars. Before hiring a business grant writer, check them out and make sure you’re dealing with a professional who knows what he or she is doing and has a track record of success.

Author: R. Flavin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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“Deal or no Deal?” – Catchphrase question asked by Howie Mandel to contestants on “Deal or no Deal”.

When the banker makes an offer on “Deal or no Deal,” it’s usually not one that benefits a contestant. But a small business grant is a deal that can benefit a business owner.

Unlike a business loan, that must be repaid, a grant is a gift. The translation is that it’s truly a gift, with no strings or future obligations attached. It doesn’t matter if a business already exists or is still in the planning stages, businesses are eligible to obtain such a grant under both scenarios.

Numerous government agencies, non-profits and other organizations can be found that are eager to award money to small businesses. Why? Because giving grant money not only helps a business with revenues but also improves the community they serve through increased buying which benefits the economy.

Many hours can be involved in trying to find government grants. Most state and provinces provide detailed information about applying on the Internet sites of their economic development offices. Someone searching for a business grant may also find what they are looking for on other organization Internet sites. But the key to success is finding an organization that specializes in such grants, as opposed to those for other business pursuits.

The outlook for obtaining a grant to start a small business is even better for women and other minorities because government bodies enjoy promoting business ownership by those groups. Obtaining this type of grant money may also be easier for someone wanting to open a business in an area that is economically deprived. Other groups for which a start-up money may be targeted toward include:

• Individuals with disabilities
• Native Americans
• Veterans

A small business grant, like any other grant is awarded after applying and approval by the municipality or organization which awards the grant. But requesting government money isn’t about simply picking up a telephone and making the request.

The awarding of a government grant is followed by a small business owner submitting a detailed business plan. The plan should specifically identify how the money will be spent. A review of the request will most likely be looked on even more favorably if the business owner can identify how the small business will benefit the community in which it will be located.

A request for a grant money takes more than just writing a brief letter. The request should be detailed. Because applying for grants is also a talent, many companies and non-profits hire individuals to perform such tasks. Help in writing a government grant request can be found through a service for professionals who offer the service, along with employment classifieds in newspapers.

Beyond a doubt, “free” money from the government is a deal small business owners should not pass on. With no risks or obligations and a guarantee of helping a business, the only response when it comes to a small business grant is “Deal!”

Author: Alex Tran
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Starting a new business is exciting, but coming up with financing and loans can be a nightmare. You know you have a great idea that can make a lot of money, but you just need some help in getting it started.

Small business is the backbone to the American economy, which is why there are government agencies and private foundations that provide women business grants to help individuals finance their venture. With the right plan and the right resources, you can quickly get financial assistance from the government to help you get off the ground running.

Who can apply for women business grants?

Obviously you have to be a female, but you also have to be a tax paying citizen that is at least 18 years old. That is the minimum eligibility requirements. Beyond that, there are various qualifications you or your business plan has to meet in order to receive a small business grant for your start up.

In most cases, you do not need credit, down payment money or even collateral. Because women business grants are not loans, the application process is more focused on your intentions for spending the money and your business’ ability to succeed.

How much is available?

There are women business grants that are provided at all different sizes. Some grants are for a couple thousand dollars, while others can be for as much as $50,000. Depending on the terms, this money may be used to finance new office furniture, rent office space, hire employees, or even purchase new equipment. Even if you have a home based business this money could help you buy new computers and printers.

Author: David Sklonic
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In business we all sometimes need that extra little bit of cash to get certain business ideas off the ground. There are many ways in which you are able to gain extra business finance such as loans, overdrafts, credit cards or through private investors such as business angels; however what do all of these have in common? They all have to be repaid in one form or another but with a business grant it’s another story.

Business grants are a sum of money that is awarded to your company for a very specific purpose or project. This money means that you can undertake the changes that you want to make to your business without having any debts at the end of it; sounds too good to be true? Well let me assure you this is completely genuine but like all things that seem too good to be true there are a few catches. You are only awarded between 15% and 50% of the total money that you need to carry out your project; the rest of the money needed has to come from you. The percentage of the total cost that you will be awarded depends on how much money you need for your purpose or project.

There are many ways in which you can obtain a grant some of the main ones are as follows:

The government

The European Union

Regional Development Agencies in England, Scottish Enterprise, the Welsh Development Agency and Invest Northern Ireland

Local authorities or local councils and local development agencies

Chambers of Commerce

County Enterprise Boards

The main type of business grants that are available are government grants and the reason that they came about was as a way of encouraging entrepreneurialism and innovation, which will translate into opening up more jobs within the business and adding value to the business, which is done mainly through the businesses profits.

Some of the reasons as to why you may be awarded a grant are for the purchasing of machinery, to improve office conditions, increase employment and developing export markets. Everything that it will be awarded for comes down to the idea of helping you to develop your business.

To be in with a chance of receiving a business grant you need to make sure that you meet the conditions set out by the grant. These conditions are that you have to have the rest of the money for your specific project or purpose ready and the project can’t have already been started. These are strict terms and conditions that apply to all grants. If these aren’t followed, immediate repayment of the grant can be required. However, generally you do not have to repay grants or interest on them unless you break the conditions.

Applying for grants can be time-consuming. You will generally be required to submit your business plan, as well as completing the specific paperwork for the scheme. Once your application has been made it will enter the reviewing stage where your application and proposal will be assessed using the following criteria:

Significance

Approach

Innovation

Their assessment of your expertise

Need for the grant

There aren’t many grants available, which means that competition for them is high so if you aren’t successful this time then I advise you to take on board the reasons as to why your application was turned down so that you can work on these points and apply again.

Author: Carolyn Clayton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Are you seriously considering minority business loans as a source of business start up funding for your new venture?Stop your search!Minority small business loans simply do not exist. I realize that you may find this vital piece of information quite shocking –but it is nonetheless true.

As a Start Up Business Consultant, I often have the unfortunate job of telling potential clients that minority business loans are a fairytale and not a fact.Oddly enough, I get the exact same reaction when I tell these same clients that small business start up grants are also nearly impossible to garner. So what is the good news?The good news is that I’m about to save you a lot of potentially wasted time and effort by giving you the facts.

Get the Facts!

Let’s check out these valuable tidbits before we proceed by examining some options — and the ultimatesolution.

Fact #1:
There are no specific business start up loans for members of a minority group.

Fact #2:
The only forms of government guaranteed financing available to minorities are SBA loan products.

Fact #3:
Minority small business start up grants do not exist.

What Government Programs Exist to Help Minorities?

So what help is available to members of a minority group?The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) operates under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Commerce.This government agency was established to give minority entrepreneurs the tools necessary to successfully compete in national and global markets.This agency however, does not offer minority business loans, nor do they hand out minority business start up grants.

Why is there So Much Misinformation about Minority Business Loans?

In 1977 the US Congress passed a law known as the Community Reinvestment Act. This law prohibited lenders from engaging in discriminatory loan practices in low income communities.This law was specifically intended to encourage banks to approve a larger percentage of loans to minorities.The passage of this law does not constitute a lending program specifically for members of a minority group.It was intended however to require that financial institutions give fair and unbiased consideration to minority loan applicants.

What Are My Start Up Financing Options?

Here are the most common methods of obtaining small business start up funding:

• SBA Loans
• Commercial Loans
• Home Equity Loans
• Peer-to-Peer Lending Groups (such as Prosper and Zopa)
• Credit Card Financing
• Loans from Family and Friends
• Bootstrapping

Consider Getting Some Help from a Start Up Efficiency Expert

A Start Up Efficiency Expert can point you in the right direction and advise you on how to reduce and/or eliminate many of your start up and operating costs.Certainly, you should also continue to conduct thorough research. However, do not trust every source of information you find floating out in cyberspace.You’ll not only waste a lot of time – but perhaps face staggering disappointment.

The Solution:
Find Free Sources of Business Start Up Funding

The Start Up Business Survival Guide is an excellent resource for anyone desiring to start a business with very little money.You can make your dreams of owning your own business without bank loans a reality – even if you have poor credit or don’t own a home.

Author: Kimberly Kelly
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The U.S. Federal Government is the nations largest provider of financial or monetary assistance for small businesses. Since 1953, the Small Business Administration (SBA) branch of the Federal government has helped many small ventures that have become household names today. The government considers small businesses very seriously. They realize their obligation to promote and develop these firms for the integrated development of the whole nation.

Small Business Administration:

The SBA does not directly offer grants to individuals for business expansion or start-up. For individual set-ups, it provides a wide variety of loan programs on easy pay back terms. However, the SBA does offer many types of grants programs indirectly to benefit small business entrepreneurs. SBA grants programs are specifically designed to expand and enhance those organizations that provide small businesses with technical or financial assistance. These monetary grants generally support state and local governments, non-profit organizations and intermediary lending institutions.

Small businesses can in turn avail the grants from these institutions. The entrepreneurs need to have a workable business plan and meet the required basic criteria to avail the loan or grant from SBA supported institutions. These funds can be then utilized to either set-up or expand the existing businesses. SBA has very special and easy terms to offer business grants to women entrepreneurs and members of the ethnic minority groups to help them become economically independent. This leads to numerous co-related activities and finally development of underdeveloped regions of the vast country. It brings about a social change and societal uplift.

Benefits of Grants from SBA:

A grant is a direct financial contribution made without any expectation of a repayment but with very specific expectations of the required outcome. These programs are designed to encourage and assist entrepreneurs in starting their own ventures. This promotes an economic development and integrates the individuals into the mainstream of American economic society. Organizations that give grants exclude for-profit businesses, but encourage small businesses to take their grants. The grants are readily provided after meeting certain basic criteria.

Women entrepreneurs are the largest beneficiarys of governments generosity for special encouragement. Federal grants are extended to those non-profit organizations that provide counseling, training and other technical support to women groups. The SBA runs special help centers and womens business centers to train the women technically. They give access to credit and capital, provide with government contracts etc as well.

Ethnic minority groups too are special beneficiaries of federal governments financial grants on easy terms. SBA runs a Minority Enterprise Development Program known as the 8(a) program. This helps the minority entrepreneurs to bag the government contracts for the utilization of their products.

Small business people or groups are very hard working and enthusiastic about their business. They spend quality time to develop it and stay in touch with their work, as they do not have too many people to help. Their businesses take precedence over their family, friends or even vacation plans. They stay in constant touch to avoid failure or any unprecedented disaster. This helps in successful maturation of their businesses after an initial set-up time.

Author: Alexander Gordon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Women and minority Americans have an opportunity to obtain thousands of dollars in small business grants, which is free money that never has to be repaid. The media spent a lot of time discussing the mortgage and bailout grants that have been made available to the American people. What they haven’t discussed is the billions of dollars that are also available to small business owners, including women and minority entrepreneurs.

The government provides free grant money for personal use for one reason. To stimulate the economy and keep American running properly. One way to do that is to help people facing foreclosure, debt and other financial hardships. But the other way is to help those who can change the current environment and push America forward. The small business owners have the ability to do this, and the government is very interested in these groups.

Unfortunately, with the credit markets tightening and banks being unable to lend, small business owners are not able to start new businesses or grow their existing ones. That’s why the government provides small business grants to people who would otherwise be able to build successful businesses, but are strapped for cash.

There is billions of dollars available, and as long as you are at least 18 years old, you can apply for these funds. All you need is access to the free grant applications and an idea for a business. There are grants for as much as $50,000 to help people fund home based businesses, buy real estate, pay employees, and even buy new office computers and furniture. The money is there but you have to ask for it.

Author: Melissa Sabella
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Have you heard about small business grants? The present day recession has made many think seriously about launching a home business. The stumbling block in this line of thought is often lack of finance. Most small enterprises die before their second year is over due to shortage of funds. People literally “beg, borrow and steal” to launch their business and then realize that it is quite difficult to run a business on a shoestring budget, pay back the loans and hope for a reasonable surplus.

A Grant Is A Gift

In view of this background, small business grants are comparable to manna from Heaven. A grant is usually given by the Government through schemes which are meant to promote certain businesses, professions or industrialization (and development) of a region. Most people know about these grants but do not go for it because they are stopped by certain myths.

1. The eligibility criteria are too strict. The truth is that there are fixed eligibility criteria; also there are for scholarships, bank loans and mortgages, job vacancies and so on. Do you stop applying because they give you fixed criteria? On the contrary, you try very hard to establish a match between their requirements and your strengths so you would be chosen as the right candidate.

2. Too much paper work. The truth is that when you deal with the Government, everything has to be in black-and-white. Though it can be a little tedious, the effort is comparable to that of applying for entry into a leading college, or qualifying for a major scholarship. The competition is high, and the best is selected.

3. The follow up is not worth it. Of course, it is worth it. Whatever rate of interest you are offered you cannot match the fact that with a grant you do not need to return the money at all. The trouble you go through to get the grant is amply rewarded by the fact that you need not worry about repayment.

As you can see, small business grants are a boon for any budding entrepreneur. Go for it!

Author: Placida Acheru
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Did you know that there are grant programs specifically for women and minority owned businesses? Even if you just have a business idea, you can receive free money from the government and other organizations that focus on helping women and minorities succeed.

The best part about these programs is that this is free money that you never have to pay back, and small business grants are some of the largest grant checks being sent out. Millions of Americans are claiming checks for as much as $200,000 for their business. While that amount of money is tougher to receive, it is not uncommon to get a check for $50,000 or more.

Once obtained, you can use these funds any way you like as long as it is within the limits of the grant term. It may be used to buy new computer and office equipment, furniture, to rent office space, or to help develop prototypes of your product or invention.

Unlike small business loans, if your venture fails you still don’t have to pay back the money. The government knows it’s taking a risk but must move forward with helping minorities and women succeed in the business world.

Many of the government grants that are available can be received over and over again. In other words, once approved, you can expect to obtain these funds year after year. Imagine getting a check in the mail for $20,000 every year just because you asked for it.

To claim some of these funds, just look over the hundreds of grant programs that are offering free money today. Select the ones that you qualify for and ask for the money by submitting an application. You could receive a check or have the funds directly deposited to your account in as little as 7 days.

Author: Melissa Sabella
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Women entrepreneurs have the incredible resource of small business grants for women that allow them to get financing for their new business start up or expansion that are second to none. The amount of free money that is available allows virtually anyone with an idea or ambition to start their own company to get off the ground running fast.

The small business grants for women that are available through the government and private foundation grants provide free money that doesn’t have to be paid back. Unlike loans that require a thorough application process, and often times some sort of collateral and co-signers, grant funding options are a much smoother process with virtually no terms.

While there are many variations of small business grants for women, most do not require any kind of credit check, down payment or income verification. They simply want to know your purpose for requesting the funding, how you plan to make money with your business, and how the money will help you succeed more or faster. If you can show that, you stand a great chance of receiving $50,000 or more in free grant money for your business.

There are many organizations in helping women and minorities succeed as working professionals and business owners, and your local government is certainly one of them. All it takes is an application and usually submitting a business plan that shows how you plan to succeed. As a result of your success from their investment in you, the community benefits from bringing in more tax dollars to the city and attracts perspective business owners.

The important part is that you receive the cash you need to pursue your dream and eliminate the financial risk of starting a business. With small business grants for women, even if your business fails, you generally don’t have to repay the money. That’s an offer you won’t find with any kind of bank loan.

Author: Melissa Sabella
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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