Small Business Grant?

[razsports]

I've come up with an idea that has never been seen online. However, my idea will cost $$$$ to design as far as programming goes. I mean I know HTML, CSS and SEO. But this idea will consist of more advanced programming.

Anyway, I heard that the United States government is giving out small business grants. How do I go about receiving a grant for a few thousand dollars?

[jetway]

like you i am also from the states, but I dont know how to get government grants directly. I do know I would start by visiting http://www.grants.gov/

That will most likely point you in the right direction about whats available. I'm also interested in your idea, but if you need hosting for the new site you are designing feel free to contact me. thanks

Kyle
jetwayhosting.com

[KatAl]

Grants.gov is a good resource, but the information on their site is primarily for non-profit organizations and government agencies (municpal, etc.)

I have researched grants for some time towards my consulting firm, and didn't find anything helpful on the grants.gov site. The CFDA site is also a good resource, but once again it is primarily for non profits.

I had a good experience hiring a grant advisor company (GrantAbility)- it was for a fee, but it wasn't too pricy and the end result was worthwhile. They combined all the factors of my situation to give me greater eligibility.If you want their contact info you can email me at Kathleen_A_Andrews@hotmail.com
- I've reccommended their service to a few people who all report good things.

There are a lot of scams out there, so if you are going to pay for assistance you should be cautious - never trust anyone "guaranteeing" you'll receive funding, even if they promise a refund, and also make sure they will explain the process of grant application to you.

Good Luck!

[Anthony Ravenscroft]

A few thousand...? Look, if you want to get a grant, you might be able to get one after two years of chasing around & filling out paperwork -- though there's also a strong chance you'll be declined in the last phases. Generaly, the only people who whiz through the application process are returning grantees.

If it was simple, fast, & easy, then anybody'd be able to do it -- & chances are that even a tiny percentage of "everybody" means a million in line before you. In most cases, it's not simple nor fast nor easy.

It helps if you're a registered nonprofit, or a corporation, or you have some sort of track record in business, R&D, etc.

Last time I tried a project with those sorts of capital needs, I took a part-time evening job, & sunk all the wages into the project. 20 hours/week, $10/hour, 25% tax bite, comes out to about $150/week, which means in 20 weeks you could have $3,000 from that source alone.

Or spend two months looking for investors &/or getting loans from friends & family (the major startup funding source). The two biggest groups after that: people who would benefit directly from your project & want to maybe get an early-user break; fellow geeks who think what you propose is really cool & would like to have a stake. 10 people at $500 each...