Business Starting Grants

Are there any grants for single parents on benefits to start up a business?

I am a 24 year old mum claiming income support. I have seen a commercial property for rent in my area and I have had an idea of opening a sandwich bar. I have the experience in this field as I used to workin a cafe. I am living on a shoestring as it is and I'm wondering if there are any grants or schemes to help unemployed people in my situation to start up a business. Any suggestions please.

Public Comments

1. Without money, you can't expect to survive running a sandwich bar, especially if you are leasing and has lots of overhead (staff, etc). Wait until your income situation improves and you've saved enough money It is hard to find grants to start a business -- especially for a sandwich bar. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business. One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs. Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups -- minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include Iowa Women's Foundation http://www.iawf.org/ New Mexico Women's Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.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." 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. Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE. http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show 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
2. Hi, I think you might be in the UK. You know the biggest problem are your overheads, rent, business rates, light and heat, telephone and possibly staff. You could check with your local chamber of commerce for grants but, I doubt if there are in UK. You might get business rates releif. Have you thought of looking for a partner one who might fund the project or, could you run the business from home offering delivery. You may want to build a spread sheet one which shows your outgoings and possible income, your own wage and all your expenses, this is called a wish sheet or profit forecast. You will then build in your margin i.e. a sanwhich that costs £1 to make sells for £2 this is 50% profit and 100% mark up. Good luck!