Okay, right from the beginning, I want to squash a myth. There is no free money from the government for small business startups. Now, I’ll preface that by saying that the government does, very rarely, hand out free money for businesses if they directly meet an environmental or specific government need. However, in those cases, the government will probably have so much control of your company that it won’t even feel like yours anymore. So, with that being said, 99% of the time, you won’t get money from the government (yes, I’m including the SBA).
However, before you walk away hanging your head and dragging your feet, let me lift your spirits a little by also saying that there ARE free ways to get money for your business. When seeking small business grants for women, you need to look for private organizations that offer this kind of funding. Several good sources to pursue include the Amber Grant and Women’s Financial Fund, and Count Me In among others. A simple internet search will yield other results as well. So before I go in on how to apply for this free money, you need to have a realistic approach. Realistically, it takes a lot of time and effort to get free money, so be sure to know that going in.
Now, while each organization can operate a little differently, generally there a few standard procedures you will have to abide by. For starters, you will absolutely have to clearly explain why you need the money. In addition to that, you will probably be required to fill out one of two forms: a grant proposal or a letter of appeal. A grant proposal is a formal document expressing what you need the money for and is usually required for money requests above $2500. If you are requesting more than $2500, then you may be asked to fill out a letter of appeal. In either case, the process takes time and will require your follow-up and persistence to keep the ball rolling. The good news is there are small business grants for women; you just need to invest the time and patience to get them.
——————
Brandon Jones is a Google Adwords Certified Partner and internet entrepreneur. His blog www.MyGoogleMarketing.net offers free tips on how to succeed online.
