How do I find information on government grants and/or government loans for starting up a new business?

I am in need of funding for business equipment and software to start my own business from home. I have seen commercials regarding government money being out there and available for all sorts of reasons like, business start up, buying a home, renovations, debt consolidations, etc. But, these commericals are advertised by people who want a fee for the information on these grants and loans. I have always figure that if they could find this information then I should be able to also. And, I have looked on and off for awhile now and can only find information if I pay a fee to someone else. Does anyone have any suggestions or has anyone actually received one of these loans and/or grants?

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

You stand a better chance of getting a government loan. For government loans, read the requirements of SBA: http://www.sba.gov/financing/preparation/requirements.html

If you want to start a business you need to apply for a LOAN.

Grants are for other uses.

There are few, if any, grants for businesses. You can contact the Small Business Administration to work with them on getting loans.

http://firstgov.gov will give you most of the info you need, but you're best bet before applying is to have a detailed marketing plan.