FAQ
Small business grants: getting started
The first questions every shop owner asks — starting with the one that saves the most time.
- Does the government give grants to start or expand a business?
- Not for an ordinary business. The SBA says so in its own words: 'SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business.' Federal help for a main-street owner is loans and free counseling, not free money. Real public money exists but is narrow-purpose and usually flows through your city, state, or a local organization — not directly to you.
- What grants can I actually apply for right now?
- Several legitimate private ones are open: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready ($10,000, ten a month through December, one application), the Amber Grant for women-owned businesses (three $10,000 grants monthly, though it has a $15 application fee), and NASE Growth Grants (up to $4,000, but membership is required). See the open-now guide for the current details and cutoffs.
- Someone offered me a government grant — is it real?
- Almost certainly not. The FTC is blunt: 'Offers of free money from government grants are scams.' The government doesn't contact you out of the blue about grants, real grants require an application for a specific purpose, and you're never asked to pay a fee — by gift card, wire, or crypto — to 'qualify.' The only complete federal grant list is Grants.gov, and it's free.
- Where do I start?
- Get grant-ready before you chase anything: a free EIN from the IRS, a business bank account, a recent tax return or P&L, and a two-paragraph story about your business. Assemble that kit once and every application gets faster. Then apply to the open private grants in batches and treat any win as a windfall.
The fastest way to waste a week is to believe the myth that free business grants are everywhere. Start with what’s real. Then see what’s actually open now.
Next step
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