In a time when banks and credit unions are denying loan applications like never before, many entrepreneurs and business owners are turning to business grants as a dependable source of financial help.

Business grants are monetary aids that are specifically designed to help individuals start a new business or expand an existing one. However, just like scholarships and other financial aid opportunities – there are tons of scams to beware of.

Here are the top 5 signs of a business grant scam:

1) No Phone Number Listed
If you are on the web site of an organization or government agency that is offering a business grant opportunity, make sure that there is a working phone number listed. If not, it’s probably not a legit opportunity. In addition, there should also be a working email address listed as well. If you get the impression that they don’t want you to get in touch with them, that should sound off an alert.

2) PO Box Address
If the postal address associated with the business grant is a PO Box, this may be a sign of a scam. Be sure to investigate though because some organizations have physical addresses, but want all applications and correspondence to go to a mail box. Use your discernment on this one.

3) Fee Required
If a company or organization is asking for your credit card number or requiring you to send a payment with your application, this will almost always be a scam.

Remember though that is very normal for some companies to charge a fee for you to access their grant database. Others will charge a fee to send you a CD-Rom or e-book. This is okay.

What is not okay, is you having to pay to apply for an individual business grant opportunity – especially if they insist on you sending a money order, a payment that can not be reversed or refunded.

4) Poor Web Site Design
If you visit a web site promoting a grant opportunity, and the design looks poor and elementary – it’s likely a scam. Organizations and government agencies that give grants away have professional-looking and well-developed web sites. Don’t scrutinize it too hard, but just be weary of sites that portray low-quality.

5) Sounds Too Good To Be True
If an organization is making far-fetched statements about a grant opportunity, it’s more than likely not legit. For instance, some grant opportunities may say “Apply for our $1 million dollar grant for your business” or “No application is ever denied”. These are claims that indicate a bogus opportunity because such statements are not very realistic.

Dante Lee
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/when-business-grants-attack-how-to-avoid-the-scams-704023.html

Small business association is an agency of the federal government which helps businesses, particularly small businesses succeed and it is the best place to seek for business grants. It is a common notion that business grants are just offered by the government, regardless of any particular requirements, which is far from the truth.

In order to get the business grants, it is necessary to meet certain requirements put forth by the government. People who seek business grants for non profit organizations stand a higher chance of receiving the grants than others. To successfully get through the process of getting a business grants, two things are absolutely essential, the applicant has to show that his or her business project is viable and prove that the business is worth enough to generate a proper income to show proof of the business viability.

So, prior to applying for a business grant, one should do thorough research on the various options and prepare a presentation of the business project. Market analysis has to be carried out and the income generating capacity studied. Though government grants are free money that need not be returned, the government would be interested in channelizing the money in the proper way so that it is useful to many people. This would ensure generating more job opportunities and effectively, enhance the economy and welfare of the nation.

There are different government agencies that offer business grants and it is better to check with them for their requirements. If a person wants to get his business grant sanctioned, then, he should present a business project that is appealing and has great feasibility. It should also be related to the field which the government is interested in promoting.

There are many different types of grants offered by government and other financial institutions, including individual grants for personal necessities, business grants for starting new business and many more. Small business administration grants are given to small businesses that are already in existence and operating. Since small businesses contribute a lot to the growth of economy to a country, the government would be keen to promote them.

The application for business grants can also be written through professionals who would give proper guidance so that the application is not rejected. So, it is necessary to furnish the required details to successfully get a business grant. It is also required to know the limits of the fund that will be offered and if possible, the assistance of experts in this regard can be sought. It is also advisable to follow up the status of the grant application and ascertain whether it is being granted or not. Government is there to help and it can be utilized properly to flourish.

Lesley Lyon
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/business-grant-application-process-679192.html

Finally decided to start your own company but having problems finding the necessary startup capital in order to get it running? Have no fear, the Government is here! Yes, I did just say The Government. The US Government offers free grants to small business owners as a way to help encourage growth and stability. While there are thousands of these offers available every year, very few are even applied for? Why is that? Because most people don’t even know they exist!

Every new entrepreneurs dreams to take his business to the Forbes 100 List but most of them fail to realize realistic goals. One of the largest contributing factors to this is a lack of startup capital or initial investment. Running your own business is expensive, something that is easy to miss-judge. For this reason, the Government offers free grants that are available to boost new business here in America.

So how can I get one of these small business grants? Simple, you need to search one of the many thousand offers available to find one that fits your needs and requirements. Some guidelines regarding that process as well as some tips on what to look for in a grant offer can be found at the Small Business Grant Money Guide. Once you’ve found the offer that fits your company you then need to submit a business plan/grant application.

Some important things to keep in mind when applying to offers:

1. Presentation of the business plan -

The first important step is the presentation. Any small business grant distributor will be interested primarily in how you tend to use the money if they give it to you, and also how you plan on using the funds to make a profit. The difference between a bank loan and a federal grant is you don’t have to show them how you’ll repay it (grants are cash gifts), which means you should focus on the ultimate goal of your business rather than the small steps you plan on taking to generate revenue along the way.

2. The message conveyed in the business plan –

The business plan is the cornerstone of any grant application This plan give a clear idea of your goals and vision as well as a rough timetable for accomplishing these goals. The potential in your business is shown in your business plan and it is the plan itself, which increases the confidence that the grant distributers will have in you.

3. The Eligibility for small business grants sanction -

• Small business grants are readily extended to small business industries to help them grow, only if they have a potential.
• Small business grants bodies have their own objectives and give grants money to those satisfying them in the best possible manner.
• The location of the business is one big reason for sanction of small business grants. The government wants decentralization of industries in order to avoid migration toward cities. For example, you’d have an easier time securing a government small business grant if you planned on being headquartered in upstate New York rather than downtown New York City.

The Small Business Grant Money Guide provides detailed information on how to find and get a grant to help finance your small business.

Tom Conrad
http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/small-business-grant-money-how-to-find-free-government-grants-to-finance-your-business-684631.html

Finally decided to start your own company but having problems finding the necessary startup capital in order to get it running? Have no fear, the Government is here! Yes, I did just say The Government. The US Government offers free grants to small business owners as a way to help encourage growth and stability. While there are thousands of these offers available every year, very few are even applied for? Why is that? Because most people don’t even know they exist!

Every new entrepreneurs dreams to take his business to the Forbes 100 List but most of them fail to realize realistic goals. One of the largest contributing factors to this is a lack of startup capital or initial investment. Running your own business is expensive, something that is easy to miss-judge. For this reason, the Government offers free grants that are available to boost new business here in America.

So how can I get one of these small business grants? Simple, you need to search one of the many thousand offers available to find one that fits your needs and requirements. Some guidelines regarding that process as well as some tips on what to look for in a grant offer can be found at the Small Business Grant Money Guide. Once you’ve found the offer that fits your company you then need to submit a business plan/grant application.

Some important things to keep in mind when applying to offers:

1. Presentation of the business plan -

The first important step is the presentation. Any small business grant distributor will be interested primarily in how you tend to use the money if they give it to you, and also how you plan on using the funds to make a profit. The difference between a bank loan and a federal grant is you don’t have to show them how you’ll repay it (grants are cash gifts), which means you should focus on the ultimate goal of your business rather than the small steps you plan on taking to generate revenue along the way.

2. The message conveyed in the business plan –

The business plan is the cornerstone of any grant application This plan give a clear idea of your goals and vision as well as a rough timetable for accomplishing these goals. The potential in your business is shown in your business plan and it is the plan itself, which increases the confidence that the grant distributers will have in you.

3. The Eligibility for small business grants sanction -

• Small business grants are readily extended to small business industries to help them grow, only if they have a potential.
• Small business grants bodies have their own objectives and give grants money to those satisfying them in the best possible manner.
• The location of the business is one big reason for sanction of small business grants. The government wants decentralization of industries in order to avoid migration toward cities. For example, you’d have an easier time securing a government small business grant if you planned on being headquartered in upstate New York rather than downtown New York City.

The Small Business Grant Money Guide provides detailed information on how to find and get a grant to help finance your small business.

Tom Conrad
http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/small-business-grant-money-how-to-find-free-government-grants-to-finance-your-business-684631.html