Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 5:36pm | by Guest Contributor
Starting a business is never easy, and with our economy still struggling to pull out of a nosedive, the prospects of getting a loan can be bleak. However, the future is bright for female entrepreneurs with a hankering to pursue a great idea (buttressed by a sound business plan).
Women today face different challenges in the workforce than their predecessors, and while our forerunners strove to ensure that future generations of females would get a fair shake, it can still be hard to overcome the stereotyping that claims women just aren’t cut out for the same jobs as men. Entrepreneurship is one of those fields.
Luckily, there are a lot of people out there who feel that women have a lot to offer when it comes to embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, and they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is.
One great source of assistance is the government. Every state has a Department of Development with branches in almost every county. And while they may not cater specifically to females looking to get a business off the ground, they do offer initiatives for small businesses and grants for “non-typical” business owners (women, minorities, students, etc.).
You can find information about government grants at http://www.Grants.gov, along with information about how to spot a scam.
You might also be eligible for low-interest government loans. Go to the Small Business Administration (SBA) website and look under the “Services” heading to find information on loans and grants (they don’t offer grants directly, but have links to several other resources). You may find it particularly easy to secure funding if you are thinking of starting certain types of businesses, including those that are eco-friendly in nature or are not-for-profit, while living or operating in a low-income area, or a region that has been struck by disaster, may also net you a higher return on financial assistance.
If you search online, you may find several websites that offer grants for female entrepreneurs. There is no real way to tell if these organizations are on the up-and-up, but if they ask you for money up front or charge some sort of fee, proceed with caution.
Grants, by their very nature, are free, so if a site is specifically advertising “grants” and asking for a fee, you can be certain it is a scam. Chances are they will either take your money with no reciprocal services, or they will point you to legitimate grants that you could have found for free on your own. If you’re unsure of the validity of a grant or loan offer, there are a couple of things you can do to check on the organization. For starters, look them up on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website to see if they are even registered or if there have been any complaints filed against them. If they check out but you’re still not sure, contact the organization and ask for a street address so you can visit their offices and talk to a representative. If they cannot give you this information, seek grants elsewhere.
Other sources of grants:
1) Search the database at http://www.grantsforwomen.org/grants_for_women.html
2) Angel Investment groups in your area
3) A Successful Woman's own: SuccessTrust Angel Circle
4) Friends and Family - consider selling shares in your company as an alternative
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