Are you a woman that is finding it hard to start up your own business in the United States because of the lack of funds? Worry not, you are not alone in this battle as there are thousands, maybe even millions of others in the same predicament such as yourself! There are ways however to overcome this lack of funds problem that women today face, one of the most obvious of which is the utilization of small business grants that are offered by the government as well as various agencies and organizations within the country to help women entrepreneurs. The government especially has stepped up in efforts to help businesswomen today as they realize the potential in these women entrepreneurs that could help galvanize the economy further.
Let us now look at tips and pointers of how budding women entrepreneurs can obtain small business grants for women to help them start their own small businesses, and possibly grow them further in the near future:
1) Before you start applying for grants, make sure that you have your business planned meticulously. Be prepared with an excellent business plan, with the exact amounts and figures that you require in every aspect of your business such as overhead, manpower, facilities and other expenses. Once you have the figures in place, add an extra 25-30% to this amount as a contingency measure to safeguard you against unexpected expenditure. A well-planned business plan could work wonders towards you obtaining a good grant to help you with your business.
2) Engage in the services of a consultant to help you find and obtain a small business grant. Although this may prove to be slightly costly to you, but the experience and knowledge that the consultant brings for your grant application could prove to be priceless, and may be the deciding factor in you obtaining it, or failing in your bid.
3) Use the internet and available website to good effect. Visit relevant sites such as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) where you could find a list of small business grants that you could apply for, as well as the Small Business Administration (SBA) website where you would discover all the information required in regards to grant applications here. Other useful sites especially for women entrepreneurs include usagovernmentgrants.org, and of course grants.gov, a government-linked site where your grant-seeking activities could bear fruit.
4) Do not forget to work on your presentation skill as well, as you would be required to present in front of a grant-awarding committee. Thus be prepared to impress them with your proposal, and all the best in obtaining the small business grant for yourself!
