How To Find Business Grants and Loans Resource Guide
Apply for Business Grants & Loans
Resources From Across The Web
Business grants can be a great way to get free money to start or expand a small business. Websites like Grants.gov and SBIR.gov list grants for entrepreneurs, including those specifically for women, minorities, and veterans. Here are a few more that are available for you.
Unlike loans, grants don’t have to be repaid, making them a great option if you qualify.
Starting or expanding a business requires capital, and securing funding is one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face.
Grants and loans can provide essential financial support for launching a startup, scaling an existing business, or recovering from financial setbacks.
This guide will help you navigate where and how to find business grants and loans, offering in-depth details on available options, application strategies, and resources for business owners.
Understanding Business Grants and Loans
Before diving into available resources, it’s important to understand the difference between business grants and loans:
- Business Grants: These are funds awarded to businesses that do not need to be repaid. Grants are often provided by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations. However, they typically have strict eligibility criteria and require detailed applications. While grants offer “free money,” they are highly competitive and may require businesses to fulfill specific obligations, such as job creation or community impact.
- Business Loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid, often with interest. They can be obtained from banks, credit unions, online lenders, and government-backed programs. Loans are generally more accessible than grants but come with financial obligations. They offer flexibility, allowing businesses to invest in inventory, marketing, equipment, and more while maintaining financial responsibility over time.
Finding grants requires research, persistence, and a strong application. Here are some key sources:
Government Grants
- Grants.gov – A federal government website listing grant opportunities for small businesses, nonprofits, and researchers. Visit Grants.gov
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Grants – While the SBA primarily provides loan programs, it also offers grants for research and development through programs like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). Visit SBA Grants
- State and Local Government Grants – Many states and municipalities offer grants to support local businesses, particularly in specific industries like agriculture, tech, or healthcare. Check your state’s grants
Corporate and Nonprofit Grants
- FedEx Small Business Grant Contest – A competitive grant program awarding funding to innovative small businesses. Apply Here
- National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants – Provides financial assistance to help small businesses expand. Visit NASE
- Amber Grant for Women – A grant designed to support female entrepreneurs with monthly and annual award distributions. Apply Here
Industry-Specific Grants
- Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant – Supports women-led businesses focused on environmental and social change. Visit Here
- Black Business Grant Programs – Organizations like the NAACP and Black Founders Fund provide funding opportunities for Black-owned businesses. Learn More
- Veteran and Minority Business Grants – Programs like the StreetShares Foundation and Minority Business Development Agency offer grants for veteran-owned and minority-owned businesses. Find More Info
More Business Grants from the web
For Los Angeles restaurants, consider the Good Food Zones Micro Grants Program (up to $25,000), the LA Region Small Business Relief Fund (cash assistance grants from $2,000 to $25,000), and the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, which provides grants to independent restaurants, food trucks, and caterers.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
1. Good Food Zones Micro Grants Program:
- Purpose: Supports food-centered businesses in designated Good Food Zones to expand access to healthy foods and overcome challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Grants: $25,000.
- Eligibility: Must be a for-profit food-centered business, located within a designated Good Food Zone, actively in business on or before March 1, 2020, annual revenue cannot exceed $1 million, and must have all required permits and registrations.
- Website: https://ewdd.lacity.gov/index.php/local-business/goodfoodzone
2. LA Region Small Business Relief Fund:
- Purpose: Provides cash assistance grants for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the windstorm and wildfires.
- Grants: Ranges from $2,000 to $25,000 depending on disaster impact.
- Eligibility: Small Businesses and nonprofits with revenue of up to $6 million and less than 100 employees.
- Website: https://opportunity.lacounty.gov/small-business-fund/
3. Restaurants Care Resilience Fund:
- Purpose: Provide grants to independent restaurants, food trucks, and caterers to help them navigate the pandemic and other challenges.
- Grants: Grants are designated for employee payroll and retention.
- Website: https://restaurantscare.org/
4. What is the Los Angeles County grant for small businesses? Dept of Economic Opportunity
Small businesses, micro-businesses, and non-profits in LA County may qualify for financial relief through our Economic Opportunity Grants (EOG) program. $54+ million in grant awards ranging from $2500 to $25,000, technical assistance, and other County services to help businesses recover, stabilize, and grow!
5. What is Hello Alice grant?
Hello Alice has awarded millions in grants to thousands of small businesses in the last two years. Our mission is to help every American with an entrepreneurial spirit launch and grow their business. 1K+ individual business and business support organizations were awarded grants in 2022.
6. SBA LOANS
To qualify for an SBA loan, your business must be a for-profit, legally operating entity in the U.S., meet SBA’s size standards, demonstrate the ability to repay the loan, and have exhausted other financing options.
7. SBDC
The SBDC is the SBA’s largest service program and provides high-quality business & economic development assistance to small businesses & entrepreneurs. We provide no-cost business advising and low-cost training to existing and new businesses.
Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by …
pcrsbdc.orghttps://pcrsbdc.org
8. USA Funding Applications
Each year, billions of dollars are awarded to individuals and businesses through grants and other types of funding. Apply for YOUR share today!
9. Small Business Grants
https://www.hiscox.com/blog/small-business-grants-women-entrepreneurs#Grants-for-everyone
10. 31 Small Business Grants for Women
https://www.hiscox.com/blog/small-business-grants-women-entrepreneurs
11. Verizon Small Business Grant
12. The Black Cooperative Investment Fund (BCIF) information.
From the BCIF website: Founded in 2016 and launched in January 2017, the Black Cooperative Investment Fund (BCIF) is a 501(c)3, community-based organization rooted in self-help economics that provides micro-loans to the Black community through pooled dollars and raises awareness about the importance of economic empowerment, equity, and wealth building for the Black community.
13. Galaxy Grants – (apply by March 31)
small business funding for women & minority entrepreneurs.
14. NASE growth grants
$4k | Since 2006, the NASE has awarded nearly $1,000,000 to members through the Growth Grants program by providing small business grants.
Apply on a rolling basis
15. https://www.businessownersideacafe.com/business_grants/index.php
| Email Newsletters for Grant Opportunities Grants for Creators – https://www.grantsforcreators.com/Grants for Small Business Owners – https://www.grantsforsmallbusinessowners.com/ |
LOANS
If you need a quick Loan from $ 1,000 to $ 36,000 with no Financial Documentation @ 0% for 12-36 months, you may want to consider applying to the organizations below.
1. www.kiva.org will help you with crowdlending up to $ 15,000 @ 0% with payment terms of 12-36 months depending on the Loan you are awarded.
2. www.jfla.org can loan you up to $ 36,000 if your FICO credit score is above 580, and you can get two co-signers with a FICO credit score above 680. With One Co-signer, you can receive a loan of up to $ 7,500.
3. https://ibank.ca.gov/small-business/loan-guarantees/
IBank’s Small Business Finance Center features a loan guarantee program to assist small businesses that experience capital access barriers. The Small Business Loan Guarantee program encourages lenders to fund small businesses to help them grow and prosper.
4. Wish Local Empowerment Program
$500+ | Offers grants to Black-owned small businesses and provides them with a platform to expand their network and community.
Apply on a rolling basis
For Women
https://www.hersuitespot.com/herrise
$1k microgrants. https://www.hersuitespot.com/hustlersgrant/
Restaurant Funding
DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund: $10,000 grants for restaurants impacted by natural disasters.
Restaurants Care Resilience Fund: $5,000 grants for independently owned restaurants in California.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest: Grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for innovative small businesses, including restaurants.
Backing International Small Restaurants Grant Program: $1 million USD awarded to 70 independent restaurants across multiple countries. Since the inception of Backing International Small Restaurants in 2022, American Express has provided $810,000 in funding to more than 70 global restaurants.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund: Funding equal to pandemic-related revenue loss, up to $10 million per business.
Comcast RISE: $5,000 grants, business consultation services, and technology makeovers for small businesses.
Skip Small Business Grants: Various grant opportunities, including instant grants and larger grants exceeding $10,000.
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge: A $25,000 grand prize and two $5,000 prizes for small businesses.
Brooklyn Brewery $10K Grant: Five $10,000 grants awarded across various categories, including Food & Drink Innovation.
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants: These grants, ranging from $250 to $5,000, are for organizations that address local community needs.
The Amber Grant: The Amber Grant offers a $10,000 monthly grant for businesses in various categories, with food and beverage being one of the rotating monthly categories.
The Grants for Growth Grant: Uber Eats’s Grants for Growth program supports small businesses in the food industry. In 2023, the program focused on helping restaurants transition to sustainable packaging.
Backing Historic Small Businesses Grant Program: In partnership with American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has launched the 2024 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. This initiative aims to support and preserve historic small restaurants across the United States. Fifty small restaurants will each receive a $50,000 grant.
The Latino Restaurant Association (LRA) Grant: The Latino Restaurant Association (LRA) has launched a grant program offering $2,500 to eligible Latino-owned restaurants to support their growth and sustainability. With a commitment to empowering the Latino culinary community, the LRA has previously awarded grants to numerous restaurants across California, fostering resilience and innovation in the industry.
A PayPal Business Loan can help you manage cash flow, buy more inventory, and improve operations. It’s a great way to take advantage of new opportunities.
https://www.paypal.com/us/business/financial-services/business-loan
Bid Opportunities with Los Angeles
RampLA.org
- Advancing Black Entrepreneurs: Chase, in partnership with organizations like Black Enterprise, the National Urban League, and the U.S. Black Chambers, has developed the “Advancing Black Entrepreneurs” program to provide resources to help Black business owners grow and scale their businesses.
