How to Apply for Home-Based Business Grants

Grants to start your own business. That elusive free funding. Well the good news is it exists-BUT usually is reserved only for nonprofit organizations, veterans, and minorities (i.e., women, the disabled, etc.).
The average joe who wants to start his own cyber cafe, or salon (for profit) will find it difficult, if not impossible to obtain one of these grants.
Now, the government does offer these grants, and it is usually doled out to the states and then to nonprofit groups, who decide how the money is used, but these are hard to come by, and are usually used for program funding.
Capital Investment can be obtained usually through Venture Capital and Angel Investers. Again, this is were the importance of a well done Business plan comes into play.

for obtaining free business plans, and setting up a LLC (this seperates you from your business as an entity for tax purposes, and liability)
http://www.ehow.com/how_2109374_up-run-internet-cafe-business.html

for more information on state and federal grants and programs see links:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Federal Student Aid (free educational grants):
   
   http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/complete013.jsp

2. Federal/State grants and programs:
   
   http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal;jsessionid=LWy0HCKKQy2XST1DqKnyFQCwTsv40SQ2WF1NzdFXHs5v8FKKCJY2!-1276709524?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=gbcc_page_locate_state&_nfls=false

3. Small business and self employment resources:
   
   http://www.jan.wvu.edu/SBSES/BUSINESSPLANRESOURCES.htm

4. SBA (Small Business Administration)
   
   http://www.sba.gov/

[irishsprout]

on 2/4/2009 Thanks. Its a helpful article. And the helpful links are good as well to read this for!

[MidniteWriter]

on 1/6/2008 Great links! I'm already started, but maybe there's something else out there for women owned businesses or writer wannabees!! THANKS!

[Chaddy]

on 12/8/2007 A lot of good information - thank you!